Smithsonian to purge ‘anti-American ideology' as MAGA revamp gets underway

Add the Smithsonian to the list of the country’s cultural institutions undergoing a MAGA-style overhaul as President Donald Trump moves to purge what he called “anti-American ideology” from exhibits across its 21 museums and the National Zoo.

While Trump’s executive order aimed at rooting out “improper, divisive” or biased content came in March, the directive ordering a thorough review of all content at the famed U.S. museums was formalized Monday in a closed-door meeting of the Smithsonian’s Board of Regents, the Wall Street Journal reported.

The Journal described the move as a “victory for the White House,” with “far-reaching consequences for the nation’s flagship art and research institution.”

“The board directed the secretary to assess content in museums and make needed changes to ensure unbiased content, including personnel changes,” a Smithsonian spokesman told the Journal. “The board requested that the secretary report back on progress and suggested next steps.”

The meeting on Monday wasn’t without its fair share of tension, with longstanding board members clashing at times with Trump-aligned board members, including Vice President JD Vance and Rep. Carlos Giménez (R-FL), the Journal said.

“The two pushed the White House to make an expeditious cultural review, while the board wanted to give Lonnie Bunch, the secretary of the Smithsonian, three months, Giménez said in an interview with the Journal,” according to the outlet.

Another “major source of tension” surrounded the fate of National Portrait Gallery Director Kim Sajet, whom Trump publicly demanded be fired in a Truth Social post last month. The Smithsonian, however, issued a statement saying that only it retained authority over personnel decisions.

The meeting on Monday was the board's first quarterly gathering since Trump issued his order.