Smithsonian pushes back on Trump’s ‘radical revisionism’ claims

(NewsNation) — The second part of a hearing will be held Wednesday in the latest step in the Trump administration’s push to change how the Smithsonian presents U.S. history.

The hearing, “Oversight of the Smithsonian: Radical Revisionism at the National Museum of American History,” follows testimony given Tuesday from museum director Anthea Hartig, who pushed back against a White House report that branded the institution’s leaders as radical activists who “cannot be trusted to tell America’s story honestly and in a way that is inspiring, unifying, and worthy of our great republic.”

“As we continue to fact-check the report, we unwaveringly attest that it does not fairly or accurately characterize the full body of work at the museum,” Hartig told a House Oversight subcommittee Tuesday.

Rep. Tim Burchett, R-Tenn., argued the museum’s exhibits show a one-sided view of history.

“In the museum’s current telling, history is just an ongoing power struggle between oppressors and the oppressed,” he said. “The report makes clear that the museum’s woke exhibits and materials reflect a broader vision held by the museum leadership.”

Hartig said that updating exhibits means adding overlooked voices.

“When historians talk about reframing a traditional narrative, we don’t mean erasing it,” she said. “We mean adding the evidence, the voices, the objects, that earlier tellings left out, so that more Americans can see themselves reflected in the national story.”

The dispute comes as the White House also reviews Smithsonian educational materials used by many U.S. history teachers nationwide.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NewsNation.