By John Q. Hosedrinker 
President Donald Trump recently expressed his dissatisfaction with American museums, particularly the Smithsonian, accusing them of being “woke” and focusing too much on historical shortcomings. He claimed that the museums should instead showcase positive aspects of the country and its future. Trump announced his intention to involve attorneys to address his concerns, similar to his actions with universities. This move is seen as a threat to these institutions, as he may attempt to cut off federal funding if changes are not made to align with his vision of American history.
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Trump, 79, is apparently very unhappy with how history is presented, specifically at the Smithsonian. His reported frustration centers on the fact that these institutions, which are dedicated to preserving and explaining the past, are not focusing enough on “the future.” This sentiment, coming from a man who is supposedly a fan of American achievements, suggests a disconnect with the very nature of historical study and its purpose. To him, it seems the focus on events like slavery is misplaced.
The core of the issue seems to be a desire to downplay the negative aspects of American history, particularly the brutal institution of slavery. The implication is that dwelling on the past hinders a positive outlook on the future. This perspective completely misunderstands the power of learning from history. Instead of ignoring the difficult chapters, understanding them is vital to moving forward, to prevent repeating past mistakes. This idea of a “Make America Great Again” future that seems to avoid confronting uncomfortable truths is, frankly, alarming to many.
The very idea that a history museum, whose purpose is to educate visitors about what happened previously, should spend time on the future is absurd. It’s like walking into a library and demanding they start writing new books, instead of just cataloging the ones they have. The suggestion that history museums should somehow predict or advocate for a specific future is a fundamental misunderstanding of their role in society. Museums are for reflection, education and context, not fortune telling.
Many people are rightfully worried, given the current political climate, that this is not just a simple misunderstanding of museum function. Concerns are that this may be part of a larger effort to rewrite history, to sanitize it, and to avoid discussions of past injustices. This is not to say that America’s past is the only bad, just the negative aspects of American history must be understood and discussed. Such an approach would effectively erase the painful experiences of marginalized groups, and it would also eliminate the lessons that history can teach. It seems that the focus on ‘the future’ is a way of trying to distract from the negative aspects of the past, especially when looking at slavery.
The irony is that by trying to silence the past, you risk repeating its mistakes. If we don’t understand the depths of slavery, the systemic racism, the exploitation, then how can we work to ensure that it doesn’t happen again? How can we build a better future if we refuse to learn from the past? The whole point of studying history is to prevent the mistakes of the past from happening again. Without remembering all that, it’s impossible to build a better future.
For anyone who cares about real progress, the emphasis should be on acknowledging the past, learning from it, and using that knowledge to build a more inclusive and just future. Museums, educational institutions, and other organizations should be free to educate and inform, not to be censored and manipulated by a political agenda. The goal should not be to hide the truth, but to learn from the past to ensure it’s never repeated.
It’s easy to see why so many people are concerned. When historical institutions are pressured to focus on a sanitized version of the past, when the difficult truths are downplayed or ignored, it creates a climate of fear. People who want a real future, one that is free and fair for everyone, will find that the historical facts are necessary.