As Keith Olbermann noted on Xitter, if anyone had any lingering doubts as to the degree of Donald Trump’s racism, today represents it red-lining with nowhere to go from here. Trump just raged on Truth Social that the nation’s museum gems, the various Smithsonian institutions, were too “woke” because they cover the pain and suffering that slavery entailed. Indeed, were that not offensive enough, Trump says that he will be sending his legal team out to remedy the situation and remove all this “woke” stuff in order to have the museum only show America’s “greatness.” There is also a throwaway line about being the “HOTTEST” country in the world – more branding. To the tweet:
The Museums throughout Washington, but all over the Country are, essentially, the last remaining segment of “WOKE.” The Smithsonian is OUT OF CONTROL, where everything discussed is how horrible our Country is, how bad Slavery was, and how unaccomplished the downtrodden have been — Nothing about Success, nothing about Brightness, nothing about the Future.
Hold up here. There is a ton about American greatness. Many of us have seen the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, the presentations on the wars, an entire museum dedicated to air and space… There is a lot about America’s greatness. But that is not the entire definition of a great country. Great countries also look at their faults, including their original sins, and how they got over them. Only weak countries seek to paper it all over, thereby making sure that the underlying racism gets worse. Speaking of which, Trump goes on:
We are not going to allow this to happen, and I have instructed my attorneys to go through the Museums, and start the exact same process that has been done with Colleges and Universities where tremendous progress has been made. This Country cannot be WOKE, because WOKE IS BROKE. We have the “HOTTEST” Country in the World, and we want people to talk about it, including in our Museums.
It is a wonder why it is that Trump needs “attorneys” to go through museums. If he simply decides that displays about slavery’s evilness are too “DEI” or “Woke” then it will likely be gone, and so will all the people who work so hard on such exhibits. It will be a wonder how it is that he can leave the Holocaust museum up (Assuming he will) but demand that the federal government clean out its own holocaust exhibits. It is pure racism, through and through.
Is this what MAGA voted for? It is very hard to tell. The hardcore MAGAs that cheer on Russia will support him through it, yes, they voted for racism. But there is a segment out there that simply voted on their warped economic beliefs. It is hard to imagine that more than one-third of Americans actually want this. But a racist is going to race, and this is the clearest indication yet as to where Trump’s loyalties lie.
Of course, it is also “safe ground” for him to stir up controversy right now. The second most offensive thing about papering over slavery is that the Epstein files remain papered over. He can always bring about controversy and memes by playing the race card, as he so often does. Americans should probably expect more stuff like this as he continues to try to dodge the Epstein files. Of course, even the Epstein matter isn’t as nationally relevant as someone trying to cover over our racist past and all-too-present.
The net went insane:
Trump is mad that the Smithsonian is talking about "how bad slavery was." That's where we're at.
— Brian Tyler Cohen (@briantylercohen.bsky.social) 2025-08-19T19:47:06.243Z
Trump: All the Smithsonian does is “discuss how bad slavery was.” So now he wants to force them to discuss how “good” slavery was?
— Joe Walsh (@walshfreedom.bsky.social) 2025-08-19T19:23:57.724Z
The funny thing about this is that the Smithsonian African American History Museum is built around the exact "Success" narrative Trump claims to want. You climb through the Middle Passage, slave cabin, Jim Crow train, etc, and come out into Oprah's studio and Obama.www.cnn.com/2025/08/19/p…
— Jonathan M. Katz (@katz.theracket.news) 2025-08-19T20:13:49.810Z
Trump is pissed that the Smithsonian talks about how bad slavery was.No, that's not a joke. That's exactly what he's mad about.
— Joshua Reed Eakle 🗽 (@joshuaeakle.com) 2025-08-19T19:30:14.049Z
Trump is now going after the Smithsonian for teaching that slavery was bad.In case anyone missed it, this is who Trump put in charge to decide what is "appropriate"African American history is now decided by this former white model.
— Denise Wheeler (@denisedwheeler.bsky.social) 2025-08-19T20:25:20.165Z
Just another day in the Trump White House. No, this is not the “HOTTEST” country in the world right now. It just might be the most desperate.
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I have not been to a Smithsonian facility, but I’m pretty sure they outline the contributions and accomplishments that African Americans have made to this country. They are a large part of what makes America great, already.
Let me strip away the PR bullshit that continues to cover our national evil…here’s the real message: you goddamn niggers need to get back in the field and get to work. Your days of free shit is over. It’s only for the massa and his friends. Now where I put my whip?
YOU BETCHA!