Lonnie Bunch Rebukes Trump at Gala, Earns Standing Ovation for Defending Smithsonian

Lonnie Bunch, the Smithsonian Institution's outgoing secretary, received a standing ovation after delivering a firm, defiant response to public attacks by President Donald Trump during a gala celebrating the 10th anniversary of the National Museum of African American History and Culture.

Defending the Smithsonian

Bunch, 73, who founded the National Museum of African American History and Culture and became the Smithsonian's first Black secretary in 2019, used the event to push back against criticism leveled at the institution by the White House and the president.

Addressing attendees, he rejected suggestions that Smithsonian staff or exhibits are unpatriotic. "The notion that somehow this museum or any part of the Smithsonian is done by people who don't love America, don't care about America, is unbelievably wrong," he said to applause and a standing ovation.

"What I'm proudest of is that, though there'll be pushes and attempts to try to do things, this museum will stand as long as there's an America." — Lonnie Bunch

Context: White House Criticism

This rebuttal follows repeated public criticism from Mr. Trump, including a post on Truth Social asserting that the Smithsonian is "OUT OF CONTROL, where everything discussed is how horrible our Country is, how bad Slavery was, and how unaccomplished the downtrodden have been – Nothing about Success, nothing about Brightness, nothing about the Future."

Lonnie Bunch defied the president in a speech celebrating the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture’s 10th Anniversary. / Shannon Finney / Getty Images

Earlier this year, the White House published a 162-page report titled "Saving America's Story," which accused the National Museum of American History of acting as "an instrument" for "a radical activist cohort dedicated to reframing the American story to serve its ideological ends."

In response to the report, Bunch told staff in an internal email that "our work is driven by scholarship, accuracy, and an uncompromising commitment to tell the fullness of America's story."

Legacy and Outlook

As he prepares to step down at the end of the year, Bunch framed the Smithsonian as both a steward of rigorous scholarship and a space that can challenge and inspire the nation. He described the museums as a "beacon of possibility" and "a place of resistance," reaffirming his commitment to preserving a broad, inclusive record of American history.

The remarks and the audience's response underscore the cultural and political tensions surrounding national museums and the role they play in interpreting America's past and present.