Trump's Latest Outrage: Slamming Smithsonian's Slavery Exhibit as 'Insult to America'

In a move that has once again ignited a fierce national debate, former President Donald Trump launched a scathing attack on the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture (NMAAHC), specifically targeting its exhibit on slavery. Taking to his Truth Social platform, Trump decried the presentation of America's historical ties to slavery as an "insult to America," doubling down on his ongoing criticisms of what he terms "cancel culture" and "Marxist" historical narratives.

Trump’s latest broadside comes despite his brief visit to the museum in 2017, an event he cut short.

His primary grievance appears to center on the NMAAHC's exploration of the "American Paradox"—the profound contradiction of a nation founded on principles of liberty and equality while simultaneously built upon the brutal institution of chattel slavery. According to Trump, the exhibit erroneously asserts that America was "founded on the principle of slavery," a claim he attributed to "Marxists and communists" infiltrating cultural institutions.

“The whole thing is an insult to America,” Trump fumed online, dismissing the museum as "really a part of the cancel culture." His comments underscore a broader conservative backlash against comprehensive historical education, particularly narratives that highlight the systemic racism and oppression inherent in the nation's past.

This sentiment aligns with previous political skirmishes over curriculum content, such as the "1619 Project" and discussions surrounding Critical Race Theory, which aim to provide a more inclusive and unvarnished account of American history.

However, historians and scholars overwhelmingly refute Trump's characterization.

The reality remains that the United States, from its very inception, was inextricably linked to the institution of slavery. Many of the nation's revered Founding Fathers were slaveholders, and the economic and social fabric of the early republic was deeply woven with the exploitation of enslaved Africans.

The NMAAHC, along with countless academic institutions, strives to present this complex, often painful, truth in its full historical context, offering visitors a deeper understanding of the forces that shaped the nation.

Trump’s remarks are not an isolated incident but rather a continuation of his pattern of controversial statements regarding race and history.

From his infamous assertion that there were "very fine people on both sides" of a white supremacist rally to his denigration of African nations as "shithole countries," the former president has consistently demonstrated a contentious relationship with historical accuracy and racial sensitivity. This latest broadside against a vital cultural institution further solidifies his stance on what he believes America's past should represent, even if it means dismissing uncomfortable truths presented by esteemed museums and historians.