The Smithsonian’s secretary, Lonnie G. Bunch III, met with President Donald Trump over lunch on Thursday, days after the White House intensified its efforts to increase its influence over the museum and research institution to rid it of so-called “improper ideology.”

Officials from the White House and Smithsonian confirmed the meeting, though neither offered further details about what the two discussed.A White House official described the exchange as productive and cordial and confirmed that White House senior associate Lindsey Halligan - who was tasked with enacting Trump’s March executive order on the Smithsonian - attended.

Trump has publicly increased pressure on the institution in recent days, calling the Smithsonian “OUT OF CONTROL” and focused too much on “how bad Slavery was” in

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