By Shane Feinstein ’27, News Editor

According to whitehouse.gov, the Trump administration has been moving to change or eliminate Smithsonian exhibits that “divide Americans based on race” or “degrade shared American values.” In a Truth Social post, Trump said these exhibits are too “woke” and place too much emphasis on “how bad slavery was.” The administration is also focusing on the National Museum of African American History and Culture, which Trump claims only discusses “how horrible our country is.”

The question is whether Trump’s proposed changes will spread to local museums and Smithsonian affiliates.

What Is Happening at the Smithsonian?

According to The Guardian, the White House followed up on these proposed changes by releasing a list of “offending fixtures.” These included an exhibit mentioning Benjamin Franklin as a slaveholder and another detailing information about racist voting rights, among others.

Additionally, directly following a meeting between Trump and the Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution, Dr. Lonnie G. Bunch III, the organization recently closed the Molina Family Latino Gallery, a temporary exhibition that was supposed to transform into the National Museum of the American Latino.

How Local Museums Could Be Affected

The federal government funds countless museums in a variety of different ways. On the local level, aside from grants, there is a network loosely connected to the federal government: Smithsonian Affiliates—museums across the country that receive artifacts, internal grants, and other forms of support from the Smithsonian Institution.

In New Jersey, the Morris Museum has been a Smithsonian Affiliate since 2019. It remains unclear whether the changes Trump is proposing to the broader Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C., will spread to local museums. “For 112 years, the Morris Museum has stood as a beacon of education, collaboration, enlightenment, and inspiration,” says Morris Museum Director of External Affairs Paul Muir. “Today, we work with many partners, public and private, to impact the cultural landscape. As the current federal administration looks to reshape the federal government, we remain resolute in providing an active and engaging cultural resource for all to enjoy.”

Museums and NA

According to the American Alliance of Museums, “museums receive approximately 55 million visits each year from students in school groups.” At Newark Academy, it is apparent that students still value museums on an educational level. Peyton Fisher ’27 believes that “they’re important because they present differing perspectives and takes on the world.” If the Trump administration’s proposed changes become a broader norm, the opportunity to showcase diverse perspectives could be reduced, and museums could become a tool for propaganda rather than education.