U.S. President Donald Trump speaks during a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy (not pictured) and European leaders amid negotiations to end the Russian war in Ukraine, at the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., August 18, 2025. REUTERS/Al Drago
President Donald Trump ranted on Truth Social that teaching about America's history of slavery is unacceptable.
"The Museums throughout Washington, but all over the Country are, essentially, the last remaining segment of 'WOKE.' The Smithsonian is OUT OF CONTROL, where everything discussed is how horrible our Country is, how bad Slavery was, and how unaccomplished the downtrodden have been — Nothing about Success, nothing about Brightness, nothing about the Future," claimed Trump.
The Smithsonian Museum of African American History walks through the struggles of those who were kidnapped and brought to the United States to work as slaves. However, as one ascends the floors, the exhibits hold up the abolitionist movement, the successes of civil rights, and celebrate those who continue to fight for equal rights.
The GOP president went on to promise, "We are not going to allow this to happen, and I have instructed my attorneys to go through the Museums, and start the exact same process that has been done with Colleges and Universities, where tremendous progress has been made. This Country cannot be WOKE, because WOKE IS BROKE. We have the 'HOTTEST' Country in the World, and we want people to talk about it, including in our Museums," he closes.
Trump's own campaign slogan, "Make America Great Again," suggests that there was a time when America was not great.