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July 21, 2026
Smithsonian Director Faces Intense Scrutiny Over Museum Exhibits in Congressional Hearing
- During a House hearing, Smithsonian Director Anthea Hartig faced sharp questions from Republicans about exhibits they labeled as 'woke', including a display linking Mickey Mouse to racism.
- Hartig defended the museum's stance on historical context, stating that Mickey Mouse is rooted in minstrelsy but is not racist.
- The hearing also focused on a toolkit discussing 'objectivity' as a feature of White supremacy, which Hartig stated was not the museum's own.
5 Sources
- live: NMAH director testifies before House DOGE panel on accusations of rewriting historyJul 21, 2026 at 1:00 PM · The Hill
- 'The museum does not take sides': Smithsonian official says amid Trump criticismJul 21, 2026 at 6:11 PM · ABC News
- G.O.P. Lawmakers Join White House in Challenging a Smithsonian MuseumJul 21, 2026 at 6:57 PM · NYT
- WATCH: Smithsonian history museum director stumbles over basic questions on sex: ‘I’m not sure’Jul 21, 2026 at 8:22 PM · Fox News
- WATCH: Smithsonian director pressed on woke exhibits: ‘Is Mickey Mouse racist?’Jul 21, 2026 at 11:00 PM · Fox News