{
  "id": 9529294,
  "title": "How the Smithsonian Became the Latest Front in Trump’s Culture War",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/24/how-the-smithsonian-became-the-latest-front-in-trumps-culture-war",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-24T09:04:51.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "ProPublica",
    "slug": "propublica",
    "url": "https://www.propublica.org/article/how-smithsonian-museum-american-history-became-target-trump-culture-war"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "In 1969, the Smithsonian's National Museum of History and Technology, now known as the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History, displayed the original Star-Spangled Banner. In November 2021, the museum introduced an exhibit titled \"The Electric Dr. Franklin,\" which highlighted Benjamin Franklin's contributions to electrical science and suggested he may have utilized enslaved people in his research. The exhibit declared that Franklin's accomplishments were partly enabled by slavery. The exhibit speculated that Franklin might have conducted experiments using family and friends as subjects, although he rarely identified particular individuals who assisted him. The exhibit has since been criticized in a White House report, alleging that the museum's mission had shifted towards political activism and away from straightforward historical education and scholarship. President Donald Trump signed an executive order on March 2025, accusing the Smithsonian of succumbing to \"divisive, race-centered ideology.\" The White House report was released in July, coinciding with the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. Two House committees held hearings in July, targeting the museum's director and discussing items such as a \"chrome and rubber crotch harness\" designed for sadomasochistic sex. Trump also signed an executive order instructing the Department of the Interior to post signs at the museum warning visitors about the ideological capture. The Smithsonian, which receives over $1 billion per year from federal funding, has largely maintained bipartisan support as a guardian of America's history, ingenuity, and natural heritage. However, the museum now faces challenges and potential budget cuts due to the controversy.",
  "summary": "The post How the Smithsonian Became the Latest Front in Trump’s Culture War appeared first on ProPublica .",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}