Trump will investigate US museums, accusing them of "historical revisionism": "They are the last vestiges of 'wokism'"

US President Donald Trump announced Tuesday an investigation into the content of museums, which he accuses of being woke , particularly in relation to the history of slavery. Since returning to the White House in January, the Republican president has been waging a crusade against American educational and cultural institutions that he claims support woke ideology, a pejorative term used by the radical right to describe policies promoting diversity.

"Museums in Washington, but also across the country, are essentially the last vestiges of Wokism ," Trump denounced on his Truth Social network. "I have instructed my prosecutors to review museum policies and begin the exact same process that has been followed with universities, where tremendous progress has been made," the conservative billionaire added.

"This country cannot be woke because 'WOKISM' IS OVER," he proclaimed.

The White House announced last week in a letter to the Smithsonian Institution , which operates about 20 museums in Washington, that the government will conduct a thorough review of the exhibits to ensure they are "aligned" with Trump's vision of "restoring truth and sanity to American history."

"The Smithsonian is OUT OF CONTROL," Trump lamented again on Tuesday, complaining that it only addresses "how horrible our country is, how terrible slavery was" and "nothing about success, nothing about brilliance."

Last March, the US president signed a decree to regain control of the contents of the Smithsonian museums, which he had previously accused of "historical revisionism" and racial "ideological indoctrination ," especially during the administrations of his predecessors and political opponents, Democrats Barack Obama (2009-2017) and Joe Biden (2021-2025).

The US government justified these measures against museums—which also affect the Kennedy Center , a cultural center in Washington—by the 250th anniversary of US independence, which will be celebrated in 2026. Trump seeks to purge museums and universities of what he considers progressive ideas that favor minorities.

Taken from African-American struggles, the English terms woke and wokism refer to "being awake" in the face of injustice.