Mickey Mouse 'Blackface' Is Why Trump Needs To Fix The Smithsonian

Conservative commentator Ben Shapiro examines a Trump administration report attacking the Smithsonian Institution's National Museum of American History for what the White House calls ideological capture and anti-American bias. The 162-page White House Domestic Policy Council document, titled 'Saving America's Story,' highlights multiple museum exhibits that the administration views as presenting an overtly negative interpretation of American history. The report specifically criticizes placard text describing Mickey Mouse as representing 'vestiges of blackface minstrelsy,' characterizing the ukulele as a 'product of US imperialism,' and framing Wild West shows as turning 'the subjugation of indigenous people into theater.' Shapiro notes the museum scheduled no events for the Fourth of July or America's 250th anniversary. The federal government funds approximately 62% of the Smithsonian's budget, totaling $1.1 billion in fiscal year 2026. Shapiro argues that museum exhibits describing Benjamin Franklin as racist and anti-immigrant, Alexander Hamilton primarily as a slave owner while ignoring his abolitionist work, and the Pledge of Allegiance as a tool to 'instill American nationalism' demonstrate systemic ideological bias. He references a 2020 Smithsonian exhibit that characterized objective rational thinking, the nuclear family structure, and timeliness as aspects of 'whiteness.' Shapiro contends that such presentations influence millions of schoolchildren who visit annually and argues taxpayer funding should not support institutions presenting America as fundamentally racist and oppressive.

• Trump administration releases 162-page report accusing Smithsonian's National Museum of American History of anti-American ideological capture and bias against Western civilization.
• Museum placard describes Mickey Mouse character as representing vestiges of blackface minstrelsy traditions, prioritizing this interpretation over his cultural significance.
• Federal government provides $1.1 billion annually, comprising 62% of Smithsonian budget, raising questions about taxpayer funding for politically controversial exhibits.
• Museum describes Benjamin Franklin as racist and anti-immigrant while characterizing Alexander Hamilton primarily as slave owner, omitting his founding of anti-slavery organizations.
• National Museum of American History scheduled no events commemorating Fourth of July or America's 250th anniversary in 2026.
• Museum officials including under secretary Kevin Gover advocated replacing Columbus Day with Indigenous Peoples Day and began speeches with land acknowledgements.
• 2020 Smithsonian exhibit characterized objective thinking, nuclear families, scientific method, and punctuality as aspects of 'whiteness' before being withdrawn after controversy.