Trump's Culture War Hits Smithsonian
A White House report criticizes the National Museum of American History's exhibit on Benjamin Franklin for its portrayal of his involvement with slavery, sparking a new front in the culture war
The Smithsonian's National Museum of American History has become the latest front in Trump's culture war after a White House report criticized an exhibit on Benjamin Franklin. The exhibit, called 'The Electric Dr. Franklin', opened in November 2021 and described Franklin's pioneering contributions to electrical science, as well as his prior involvement with slavery.
The exhibit speculated that Franklin may have used enslaved people in his electrical research, which was a key point of contention in the White House report. The report, released in July, argued that the museum had fallen victim to 'ideological capture' and moved away from historical education and scholarship. Instead, the report claimed that the museum's mission had been transformed toward 'extreme political activism'.
The exhibit 'The Electric Dr. Franklin' closed in 2025 but is still available online. The White House report's criticism of the exhibit is part of a broader effort to shape the narrative around American history and culture. The report's authors argued that the museum's portrayal of Franklin's involvement with slavery was an example of this 'ideological capture'.
## What's at Stake The controversy surrounding the exhibit highlights the ongoing debate over how American history should be presented and interpreted. The Smithsonian's National Museum of American History is one of the most respected institutions in the country, and its exhibits are seen by millions of people each year. The White House report's criticism of the exhibit has sparked a new front in the culture war, with some arguing that the report is an attempt to erase the darker aspects of American history.
The exhibit's portrayal of Franklin's involvement with slavery is not unprecedented. Historians have long acknowledged that Franklin, like many other Founding Fathers, owned slaves and profited from the institution of slavery. However, the White House report's criticism of the exhibit suggests that there is a growing effort to downplay or erase this aspect of American history.
## Why it Matters The controversy surrounding the exhibit is not just about the Smithsonian or Benjamin Franklin. It's about the broader narrative around American history and culture. The White House report's criticism of the exhibit is part of a larger effort to shape the way Americans think about their country's past and its place in the world. As the culture war continues to rage on, the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History has become a key battleground.
