The Smithsonian Institution’s flagship American History Museum on the National Mall, which attracts between 2 million and 4 million visitors annually, is under scrutiny for its portrayal of American history. Visitors to the museum’s Entertainment Nation exhibit might get the impression that iconic cartoon character Mickey Mouse was inspired by blackface minstrelsy, a form of entertainment historically linked to the demeaning of African Americans.

Notably, the museum lacks any permanent exhibit dedicated to the Founding Fathers or the signing of the Declaration of Independence. This absence was highlighted during a House hearing titled "Rewriting American History: Examining the Smithsonian's Efforts to Reshape the Past," held on July 21, 2026.

During congressional testimony on July 22, Museum Director Anthea Hartig denied that the Smithsonian views Mickey Mouse as a racist symbol, though this assertion was met with skepticism. The Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture has heavily integrated the 1619 Project into its exhibits. The project, which claims that slavery rather than freedom is central to American identity, has been widely criticized and debunked for historical inaccuracies.

The African American Museum also features exhibits on figures such as Angela Davis and Stokely Carmichael, noted for their Marxist and militant activism. It was only after significant protest that the museum included an exhibit on Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas.

The controversy has prompted President Donald Trump to order a review of the Smithsonian's content as part of the United States’ 250th anniversary celebrations. Critics warn that repudiating the nation's historical inheritance risks fragmenting the national community into cultural and linguistic divisions.

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