美国史密森尼国家美国历史博物馆主任Anthea M. Hartig在众议院监督委员会听证会上为博物馆进行了辩护[1]。白宫国内政策委员会在7月4日发布报告，指责该博物馆未能以"令人振奋、团结和符合伟大共和国"的方式讲述美国历史，并称博物馆"拒绝庆祝该国及其历史"[1]。特朗普政府要求对文化机构中的多元性与包容性元素进行整顿[1]。
Hartig对这些指控进行了反驳。她表示："当历史学家谈论重新框架叙述时，我们不是指擦除它。我们是指增加早期讲述遗漏的证据、声音和物品。"[1]她强调，博物馆的展览是通过纳入被历史遗漏的视角来完善而非削弱传统叙事[1]。
共和党众议员Tim Burchett提出了对博物馆叙事的批评，声称"在博物馆当前的讲述中，历史只是压迫者和被压迫者之间持续的权力斗争"[1]。白宫报告还指出，博物馆未能创建任何展览专门讲述建国者或《独立宣言》等内容[1]。
博物馆在5月推出了"追求生命、自由和幸福"展览，展示250件文物庆祝美国独立250周年，其中包括托马斯·杰斐逊起草《独立宣言》的书桌[1]。
此前，特朗普曾表示将解除国家肖像美术馆长期领导人，该馆馆长Kim Sajet后来在白宫压力下下台[1]。
Anthea M. Hartig, director of the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History, rejected White House criticism characterizing the institution's leadership as radical activists during a House Oversight Committee hearing [1]. The Trump administration's Domestic Policy Council issued a report on July 4 alleging that the museum had failed to tell American history in a manner that was "uplifting, unifying and befitting a great republic" and called for the removal of diversity and inclusion initiatives from cultural institutions [1].
Hartig defended the museum's approach to historical narrative, stating that when historians discuss reframing narratives, "we are not talking about erasing it. We are talking about adding evidence, voices and objects that earlier tellings left out" [1]. She argued that exhibitions enhance traditional accounts rather than eliminate them [1].
The White House report claimed the museum "refused to celebrate the nation and its history" and had not created any exhibitions specifically dedicated to the nation's founders or the Declaration of Independence [1]. Republican Representative Tim Burchett criticized the current museum narrative, contending that "in the museum's present telling, history is just a continuous power struggle between oppressors and the oppressed" [1].
The museum launched an exhibition titled "Pursuing Life, Liberty, and Happiness" in May, showcasing 250 artifacts to commemorate the 250th anniversary of American independence, including the desk used by Thomas Jefferson to draft the Declaration of Independence [1].
The White House pressure on cultural institutions extends beyond the history museum. Trump previously indicated he would remove the long-serving director of the National Portrait Gallery, leading Kim Sajet to step down amid White House pressure [1].