I recently joined WDET’s The Metro to discuss the White House’s directive ordering a “comprehensive internal review” of eight Smithsonian museums. The administration has said it wants institutions to celebrate American exceptionalism instead of addressing the nation’s racial history, and to avoid any negative portrayals of the president.

Already, one Smithsonian museum has altered its exhibit on Donald Trump, removing references to his false claims about the 2020 election and his role in encouraging the Capitol riot. While officials describe this as an effort to end partisanship and restore confidence in cultural institutions, many see it as a troubling attempt to limit free speech and intensify the culture wars.

In the conversation, I emphasized that museums are not neutral. They hold the responsibility of presenting complex histories, encouraging reflection, and sparking dialogue about who we are as a society. When political forces attempt to narrow or sanitize these narratives, the core mission of museums is put at risk.

This moment is a reminder that museums matter. They are more than collections of objects. They are spaces where we wrestle with our past, confront hard truths, and imagine a more inclusive future.