Still, it's far from the first time the Smithsonian has been involved in political controversy.
In addition to the recent removal of Donald Trump's impeachment text and the inclusion of material from Robin DiAngelo in 2020, the Smithsonian Institution has a long history of facing accusations of political bias and bowing to external political pressures.
Recent Controversies (2023"2026)
Removal of Slavery-Related Artifacts (2025): Under pressure to focus on "American exceptionalism," the Smithsonian reportedly removed approximately 30 artifacts related to slavery and African American history from displays in August 2025. Items removed included a hymn book used by Harriet Tubman and instruments used on plantations.
Amy Sherald Exhibition Cancellation (2025): Artist Amy Sherald canceled a planned 2025 exhibition at the National Portrait Gallery after the museum requested a "contextualizing video" for a painting of the Statue of Liberty modeled by a transgender artist, which Sherald viewed as censorship.
"Entertainment Nation" Exhibit Criticism (2025): This exhibit at the National Museum of American History has been criticized for portraying 19th-century circuses as expressions of "colonial impulse" and for praising Anthony Fauci without addressing criticisms of his pandemic response.
"The Shape of Power" Exhibition (2025): An exhibit at the Smithsonian American Art Museum was criticized by the Trump administration for "divisive" content, specifically for promoting the idea that race is a "human invention".
Pro-Life Student Incident (2023): The Smithsonian faced a lawsuit and public outcry after staff at the National Air and Space Museum reportedly ordered a group of students to remove pro-life hats, which was later characterized as a violation of free speech.
Landmark Historical Controversies
The Enola Gay Exhibition (1994"1995): In what is often cited as the most significant instance of political pressure, the National Air and Space Museum was forced to cancel a planned 50th-anniversary exhibit of the B-29 bomber that dropped the atomic bomb on Hiroshima. Critics and veterans' groups argued the exhibit focused too much on Japanese casualties and not enough on American lives saved; the controversy led to the resignation of the museum's director.
"The West as America" (1991): An exhibition at the National Museum of American Art was condemned by several U.S. Senators as "perverse" and "historically inaccurate" for its revisionist interpretation of westward expansion as a process of conquest rather than heroic discovery.
"Science in American Life" (1994): This exhibit was heavily criticized by scientific organizations and lawmakers for presenting a "negative" view of science, specifically highlighting environmental disasters and the development of nuclear weapons.
Clarence Thomas Exhibit Omission (2016): At its opening, the National Museum of African American History and Culture faced backlash for initially excluding Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas from its displays while featuring figures like Anita Hill, leading to accusations of partisan bias.
