Smithsonian boss's exit signals Trump's 'deeply alarming' about-face is complete: analyst
The resignation of Smithsonian Secretary Lonnie Bunch marks an about-face by President Donald Trump, who once raved about the outgoing leader.
In a Tuesday appearance on CNN, presidential historian Leah Wright Rigueur flagged the evolution of Trump's posture toward the Smithsonian and explained what Bunch's departure means for institutions like it.
"Lonnie Bunch stepping down is a tremendous loss for cultural institutions across the United States," Rigueur said. "What an absolute icon in the field, somebody who truly loved history, truly loved culture, and really loved putting this kind of public display of American history first."...
Sep 08, 2026