Smithsonian Chief Defends Truth Amid Trump Attacks

Published: 26 September 2026. The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online

Smithsonian Secretary Lonnie G. Bunch III has delivered a forceful defence of the institution’s role in documenting American history, telling an audience in Washington that confronting difficult chapters of the past is not an act of disloyalty but an essential part of understanding the country.

Bunch, who is due to retire from the Smithsonian at the end of 2026, received a standing ovation on Friday during a special conversation at the National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington. The event formed part of the museum’s 10th-anniversary celebrations and was moderated by journalist Laura Coates.

The discussion came at a politically sensitive moment for the Smithsonian. The institution has faced increasing scrutiny from Donald Trump’s administration, which has criticised aspects of the way American history is presented in museums and has called for greater emphasis on what it describes as the nation’s achievements and accomplishments.

Against that backdrop, Bunch defended the principle that museums must present history in its complexity, including episodes that may be uncomfortable or painful.

He rejected suggestions that Smithsonian employees or exhibitions are motivated by hostility towards the United States. Instead, he argued that examining the country’s history honestly reflects a deep attachment to the nation and a desire to understand how it developed.

The National Museum of African American History and Culture, which Bunch helped establish as its founding director, has become one of the most prominent institutions devoted to documenting the African American experience. The museum opened to the public in 2016 and is now marking its first decade with a series of events under the theme “Welcome Home: Our Legacy Continues.”

The Smithsonian has confirmed that Bunch’s Friday evening conversation was designed to explore the role of museums in examining the past, considering multiple perspectives and deepening public understanding of the people and events that have shaped the United States. The event also took place as America prepares to mark the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence.

For Bunch, the question of how museums present slavery remains central to the wider discussion about American history. He argued that slavery cannot be separated from the story of the United States because it played a foundational role in the development of the country and its institutions.

His comments came after years of political debate over the treatment of slavery, racial inequality and other difficult subjects in American schools, museums and public institutions. Supporters of a more traditional patriotic presentation of history have argued that national institutions should place greater emphasis on American achievements and avoid presenting the country primarily through its failures.

Critics of that approach argue that removing or minimising painful historical experiences can leave the public with an incomplete understanding of how the country developed.

Bunch presented his position in terms of historical responsibility rather than political confrontation. He said that understanding the United States requires examining the whole story, including its “dark corners”. For curators, he suggested, the responsibility is to bring those parts of history into the light and allow visitors to consider them in context.

That philosophy has been closely associated with his career. Bunch began working at the Smithsonian in 1978 and eventually became the institution’s 14th secretary in 2019. He was the first African American to hold that position.

Before becoming secretary, he served as the founding director of the National Museum of African American History and Culture from 2005 until 2019. During that period, he helped guide the institution from an ambitious concept into a major museum on Washington’s National Mall.

The Smithsonian says Bunch has spent nearly four decades associated with the institution. His career has included work as a historian, curator and museum leader, with the African American museum representing the most visible achievement of his leadership.

The museum itself was the product of a lengthy effort to establish a national institution devoted specifically to African American history and culture. Its exhibitions cover subjects including slavery, emancipation, segregation, the civil rights movement, African American military service, cultural achievements and contemporary life.

Bunch’s defence of historical complexity therefore carries particular significance for the institution he helped create. He told the audience that the museum would continue to stand as a place where difficult stories could be encountered, even as political debates surrounding cultural institutions intensified.

He also spoke personally about the museum’s importance. Recalling moments when he had faced pressure and criticism, Bunch described walking through the galleries and seeing objects connected with some of the most painful episodes in African American history. Those experiences, he suggested, reinforced his belief that the museum could provide a source of perseverance and possibility.

Among the museum’s most recognised objects is the casket associated with Emmett Till, the Black teenager whose 1955 murder became an important catalyst for the modern civil rights movement. The object has become one of the museum’s most powerful reminders of the human consequences of racial violence.

Bunch said the museum could not simply be erased by changes in political leadership or public controversy. Its collections, exhibitions and educational mission have become part of a broader national conversation about American identity.

The debate has intensified as the Trump administration has sought greater influence over the presentation of history at federally supported cultural institutions. The administration has accused some institutions of presenting a distorted version of the American story, while supporters of the Smithsonian’s existing approach say historical scholarship should not be altered according to the political priorities of any particular administration.

The Smithsonian occupies a distinctive position in American public life. Established by Congress in the 19th century, it operates under the governance of a Board of Regents and a secretary. Its network includes museums, research centres, libraries and the National Zoo.

The institution has previously emphasised its nonpartisan character and the role of its governing structure in protecting its institutional independence. That question has become particularly prominent during the current dispute over museum content.

Bunch’s retirement announcement earlier this month added another dimension to the debate. The Smithsonian said he would conclude nearly 38 years of service when he steps down.

His departure comes after a period in which the institution has faced unusually intense political attention. The Smithsonian has been preparing exhibitions and programmes connected with the United States’ 250th anniversary while also responding to scrutiny over how its museums portray subjects such as slavery, race and national identity.

At Friday’s event, however, the emphasis was not simply on the political dispute. The conversation focused more broadly on what museums are supposed to do and how they can help societies understand themselves.

The museum’s acting director, Shanita Brackett, has also emphasised the importance of inclusion, public engagement and independent scholarship. A new legacy fund established in Bunch’s honour is intended to support the African American museum’s work and its future programmes.

Television producer and museum board member Shonda Rhimes pledged $1 million to the fund, which was launched with an anonymous donation of $3.5 million and has a target of at least $10 million.

The fundraising effort reflects concerns about preserving the museum’s mission while ensuring that it remains capable of expanding exhibitions, educational programmes and public engagement.

For visitors, the debate over historical interpretation can sometimes appear abstract. Inside the museum, however, the subjects being discussed are represented through photographs, documents, clothing, personal possessions and other objects connected with real people and events.

That human dimension was central to Bunch’s message. His argument was that confronting painful history does not require rejecting the country itself. Instead, understanding those experiences can help explain the struggles, achievements and continuing debates that have shaped American society.

The National Museum of African American History and Culture is currently celebrating its 10th anniversary with events running from September 24 to September 27. The programme includes discussions, community gatherings and special celebrations designed to reflect on the museum’s first decade.

As Bunch prepares to leave the Smithsonian, his remarks underline the continuing debate over who decides how national history should be told. Political leaders, historians, museum professionals and members of the public continue to hold different views about how national pride should coexist with historical honesty.

For Bunch, the answer lies in refusing to separate the two. His message to the audience was that a country cannot fully understand its achievements without also examining the circumstances, conflicts and injustices that helped shape them.

His appearance at the museum therefore became both a farewell moment and a statement about the institution he helped build. As the Smithsonian enters a new chapter and the United States prepares for its 250th anniversary, the question of how the nation remembers its past is likely to remain a major part of the public conversation.