Ohio Museums Respond to Trump’s Criticism of the Smithsonian

With President Donald Trump’s critique of the Smithsonian Institution, Ohio’s Smithsonian-affiliated museums plan to continue the work of educating and serving their communities.

 

In March, Trump signed an executive order calling for a review of the Smithsonian and its affiliate museums, accusing the institution of promoting “divisive” and “anti-American” ideas.

 

The White House ordered a review of exhibits, staff practices, and public statements to make sure they align with what it called “American Ideals.”

 

The Smithsonian is the world’s largest museum, education and research complex, with 21 museums, 14 education and research centers and the National Zoo. 

 

Smithsonian Affiliate museums operate independently but share exhibits, resources and programs with the Smithsonian.

 

In Ohio alone, there are 7 Smithsonian affiliate museums and more than 200 Affiliates across nearly every state.

 

The Ohio Museums Association (OMA) advocates for connecting and empowering Ohio museums and museum professionals.

 

Johnna McEntee, OMA’s Executive Director, believes museums will keep advocating for education and that they are meant to teach objective stories and history, shared humanity and heritage; they are not, by nature, partisan.

 

“Museums, as ever, are continuing to work towards their missions—which is to be the best possible stewards of our shared cultural heritage—and to best serve their communities, to be educators, and to be community anchors, to be places of connections, and deeper understanding of our past and our humanities,” she said. “These changes on the federal level won’t impact museums in their work because…museums aren’t doing the things they are being accused of.”

 

With Trump’s shifting policies, Mcentee said the OMA is dedicated to continuing its advocacy for Ohio museums.

 

“Continuing to talk to members of Congress and encouraging our museums to keep talking, telling our elected officials and their stakeholders, members, and members of the community that the organizations their children go to and learn from…are integral to their community,” McEntee said. “The health and well-being [of organizations like the Institute of Museum and Library Services, National Endowment for the Arts and Humanities, National Science Foundation] are integral to museums on a community level…building the support for these federal agencies is an important part of our advocacy work.”

Photo courtesy of OMA Executive Director Johnna McEntee

Arts and culture in the United States is a $704 billion industry, with Ohio museums contributing an annual $1.54 billion to their state’s economy. There are 1300 Ohio museums, totalling 11.6 million visitors in 2024 alone. 

 

Not only do museums attract visitors and tourists, helping to teach state and local curricula, but they are also job creators. More than 25,900 jobs in Ohio are supported by the museum industry every year, providing substantial wages to its residents.

Museums are economic engines, supporting American people and families while anchoring communities. 

 

A history professor at Kent State University, Elaine Parsons, believes museums are expressing an aspiration or vision of who we are. 

 

“They tell us the little things we do in our lives matter; our small triumphs and struggles are connected to a really important bigger picture,” she said. “In showing respect to those objects from our history, it shows respect to us.”

 

Museums serve the public and are trusted institutions that help improve public health and save species. 

 

“It is important to push back and express what we think the nation is,” Parsons said. “Museums are a narrative. They are storytelling institutions.”