Donald Trump, as the sitting U.S. President in 2025, has publicly stated that he instructed his lawyers to review and remove what he calls 'woke' content from American museums, specifically criticizing exhibits about slavery.
True
Trump has instructed his lawyers to scour through America’s museums and rid them of exhibits that he calls “woke,” specifically citing exhibits of slavery.
Trump vows to target 'woke' museums with same playbook used on Columbia, Harvard
Source: cnbc.com
At a glance
Verified August 20, 2025Key Evidence
Trump publicly stated on Truth Social that Smithsonian museums are 'out of control' with content focusing on 'how bad slavery was.'.
He ordered his lawyers to scour museums for 'woke' exhibits and remove them.
News sources confirm this directive is part of a broader campaign against perceived 'wokeness' in cultural institutions,,.
axios.comaxios.comTrump says he has instructed lawyers to look into "woke" in Smithsonian museums
npr.orgnpr.orgTrump expands 'woke' criticism from Smithsonian to other museums : NPR+1 more
The reporting
What the Evidence Shows
In August 2025, President Donald Trump made multiple public statements and social media posts asserting that Smithsonian museums and other museums across the United States contain 'woke' exhibits that portray the country negatively, particularly focusing on slavery. He described these museums as 'out of control' and the 'last remaining segment of WOKE. ' Trump has directed his legal team to investigate and take action to eliminate such content, using a strategy similar to his administration's approach toward colleges and universities.
This campaign is part of a broader effort by Trump to shift museum narratives away from critical historical perspectives toward emphasizing America's positive aspects. Multiple reputable news outlets including Axios, NPR, CNN, CNBC, People, and others have reported on these developments contemporaneously.
Primary trail
Verified Sources7
Open source