Rep. Brandon Gill Challenges Smithsonian Over Alleged ‘Woke’ Exhibits

Republican Representative Brandon Gill of Texas confronted Smithsonian National Museum of American History Director Anthea Hartig during a House Oversight Committee hearing, accusing the museum of promoting a “white‑supremacy” agenda through its exhibits and instructional toolkits. Gill questioned Hartig about the museum’s references to objectivity and even asked whether iconic symbols such as Mickey Mouse were being portrayed as racist.

Following the hearing, President Donald Trump signed an executive order directing the Smithsonian to post warning signs outside the museum that flag alleged ideological bias and to create temporary exhibits correcting the purported inaccuracies. Gill praised the order as a first step toward “cleaning house” at the institution and called for the removal of museum officials he said were advancing left‑wing activism.