Icom defends the Smithsonian amid Trump's attacks
The public statement of support follows the international museum body’s recent update of its code of ethics, as well as a similar statement issued by the American Alliance of Museums in July
The International Council of Museums (Icom) has issued a statement defending the Smithsonian Institution against political attacks by US President Donald Trump and his administration. In a Tuesday (11 August) release, Icom-US emphasized the importance of museums in preserving and interpreting history, stating that their purpose is not to end conversations but to begin them.
The statement expressed concern over recent congressional hearings and actions affecting the Smithsonian Institution, particularly in light of the Trump administration's efforts to scrutinize "woke" programming and whitewash US history. Since the beginning of Trump's second term, political attacks on the Smithsonian have been ongoing, including grilling of the director of the National Museum of American History before Congress over a White House report calling out the museum's leadership for allegedly denigrating and displacing various groups.
Icom-US reaffirmed its unwavering support for the Smithsonian, its leadership, governing bodies, and the thousands of museum professionals who manage one of the world's greatest cultural and educational institutions. The statement follows Icom's release of an updated code of ethics, its first in over 20 years, which highlights the need for institutional independence.
Icom's support echoes a similar statement from the American Alliance of Museums (AAM) published in July, both urging the safeguarding of museums' independence, integrity, and public trust.
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