GoKawiilWhite House report accuses Smithsonian museum of 'ideological capture'
A 162-page White House report released in July criticized the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History, citing exhibits like 'The Electric Dr. Franklin,' which speculated Benjamin Franklin may have used enslaved people in electrical experiments. The report argued the museum has shifted from historical education toward what it called 'extreme political activism.' The Franklin exhibit closed in 2025 but remains viewable online.
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The dispute marks a rare instance of the Smithsonian—long seen as maintaining bipartisan credibility across its 21 museums and 15 million annual visitors—becoming a direct target in a politically charged battle over historical interpretation. This could signal broader pressure on federally-linked cultural institutions to alter how they present contested aspects of American history, particularly around slavery and race.
- A White House report labeled the Smithsonian's American history museum as ideologically captured.
- The report cited an exhibit suggesting Franklin may have used enslaved people in electrical experiments as an example of concern.
- The controversy signals growing political scrutiny of how major cultural institutions frame historical narratives.
Source: arstechnica.com, 2026-09-27
Published there as: “How the Smithsonian became the latest front in Trump’s culture war”
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