White, patriarchal and Christian: White House’s vision for the National Museum of American History

A 162-page report released on July 4 by the White House Domestic Policy Council criticizes the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History and argues it should present a more “proudly patriotic” narrative. The report claims the museum has adopted “radical, activist ideology” by emphasizing the experiences of Indigenous and Black people, immigrants, and women, and says this approach “denigrated and displaced whites, males, Christians and Americans.” It faults the museum for allegedly lacking exhibits centered on Founding Fathers such as George Washington, Benjamin Franklin, and Thomas Jefferson, and for not sufficiently highlighting Christianity’s “central and positive role” in US history. The document also objects to how slavery and Indigenous forced conversion are presented, urging a reframing that emphasizes founders’ contributions to abolition and voluntary conversion narratives.

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