The Smithsonian’s Most Contested Exhibition Is Back on View, Mostly Intact

The Smithsonian’s most contested exhibition is back on view, mostly intact

Since Donald Trump returned to office in January 2025, the Smithsonian has been the administration’s favored target for its new museum-focused culture war against diversity and inclusion, and narratives of U.S. history that include the ugly truth of slavery, Native American genocide and the ongoing struggle for the rights of women, Latinos, Asian Americans, immigrants, LGBT communities and others.

The Smithsonian’s New Latino Exhibit Is Missing a Huge Piece of the Story

“¡Puro Ritmo! The Musical Journey of Salsa” represents the Smithsonian’s Latino Museum’s third attempt to present itself to the American public. The first two exhibits failed—one so badly that it was withdrawn before opening—largely because of their overtly political, left-leaning framing. Museum leadership apparently hopes that the third effort will finally succeed.To its credit, ¡Puro Ritmo! initially seems designed to avoid the controversy th…