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  • White House Mandates Smithsonian DEI Audit in Countdown to 250th Anniversary

    White House Mandates Smithsonian DEI Audit in Countdown to 250th Anniversary

    White House Declares a Smithsonian Scrutiny Mission

    In a move that had Smithsonian curators waving red‑and‑white flags in the hallway, the White House on Aug. 12 ordered a full internal review of several museums and their exhibits. The goal? Make sure every canvas, dinosaur skeleton, and pocket museum trick reflects the Spirit of America – a theme echoing President Donald Trump’s current “celebrate U.S. exceptionalism” directive.

    The Mission, Straight from the Oval Office

    • Inspect content that’s seen by the public.
    • Fine‑tune displays to match the bold national narrative.
    • Ensure every exhibit speaks the same patriotic language.

    Why It Matters

    Imagine a museum as a “national apology note” – the guidelines dictate how America’s story gets told. The White House wants every historic artifact, from the First Spouse’s beloved heirloom to the great indie dinosaur fossil, to resonate with that one unifying message of triumph and awe.

    With a Dash of Humor

    In other words, the Smithsonian’s showing the crowd that if you’re going to crane your neck at the American Dream, you better bring the flag colors too!

    Smithsonian Gets a Reality Check

    The White House just sent a big ol’ scare‑crow to the Smithsonian’s top brass—Lonnie Bunch III, that is—telling the iconic museum that it’s time for a deep dive into its own digital and educational waters.

    What the Letter Says

    In a letter that reads like a set of backstage notes, the White House laid out a four‑step plan: review the Smithsonian’s websites, scan its social media vibes, scrutinize all the classroom materials, and settle on the overall tone, historical framing, and how everything lines up with the “American ideals.” The goal? Make sure the museums feel like the federal version of a “cause‑for‑the‑future” rally.

    Why Now?

    The nation’s prepping for its 250th‑anniversary celebration of the Declaration of Independence, and the message ringed loud: “It’s more important than ever that our national museums echo unity, progress, and the values that make the American story tick.” The White House wants museums to shout, “We’ve got a great story, folks!”

    The First Target List

    The review will start with a select group of eight museums—here’s the diamond‑in‑the‑rough lineup:

    1. The National Museum of American History (that’s “NMAH”).
    2. The National Museum of African American History and Culture.
    3. The National Museum of the American Indian.
    4. Five more museums that will come into the spotlight in a second phase.
    The Bigger Picture

    White House officials highlighted that the initiative “aims to ensure alignment with the President’s directive to celebrate American exceptionalism, remove divisive or partisan narratives, and restore confidence in our shared cultural institutions.” In other words: we want museums that are think‑policymakers, not reality‑baddies.

    Trump’s “Truth and Sanity” Order

    Remember the executive order Trump signed on March 27, titled “Restoring Truth and Sanity to American History”? That was the launchpad for this whole crackdown. “Revisionist movement” crashes the party with a wave of distorted facts and ideology, according to the Oval Office. Trump singled out the Smithsonian as a victim of that “divisive, race‑centered ideology,” claiming the museum had fallen under the influence of a narrative that’s far from honest.

    In short, the Smithsonian’s got a headline‑worthy makeover request, and it’s all about nudging the national museums back into the groove that America’s proud of—no jargon, no partisanship, just good, honest stories that let every visitor feel a part of the American adventure.

    ‘Focusing on Americanism’

    Smithsonian 250th Birthday: A White House Collaboration with a Dash of Redesign

    The White House just dropped a formal request on the Smithsonian that reads almost like a high‑stakes, 75‑day sprint. Within 30 days of receiving the letter, the institution must hand over:

    • Programming details for the 250th anniversary
    • Exhibition plans and all the supporting goodies
    • Lists of invited speakers, events, and the like

    But that’s not the end of the race. Within 75 days, curators and senior staff should:

    • Schedule interviews with key stakeholders
    • Submit additional documentation
    • Finalize refreshed plans that celebrate the nation’s birthday in full swing

    And the whistle‑blower component? The Smithsonian is instructed to kick off content corrections “within 120 days.” The goal: replace any divisive or ideology‑laden language on placards, wall didactics, digital displays, and every public‑facing material with insights that are historically accurate, constructive, and unifying.

    Whispered Words from Washington

    The White House letter frames this as a collaborative opportunity. It says the Smithsonian has the chance to “embrace a revitalized curatorial vision that roots its story in the strength, breadth, and achievements of the United States.” The department’s hope? To remix the Smithsonian’s role as the world’s premier museum for a fresh, American‑centric narrative.

    Let’s Talk Numbers

    • About 62% of the Smithsonian’s budget comes from the federal grant, topping a billion dollars.
    • The complex spans 21 museums plus the National Zoological Park and several research facilities.
    • The Smithsonian’s official statement, sent to The Epoch Times on August 13, reminded everyone of its mission: “We are grounded in scholarly excellence, rigorous research, and the faithful representation of history.”

    They claim they’ll review the letter keeping that commitment at the forefront, “and will continue to collaborate constructively with the White House, Congress, and our governing Board of Regents.”

    In short, it’s a sprint, a makeover, and a promise. The Smithsonian’s scholars are standing by, ready to put the final polish on the nation’s 250th celebration—while staying true to the indispensable values of research and accuracy that define this iconic institution.

    Rolling Back DEI

    Trump’s Bold Sweep to Reclaim “American Culture”

    It’s no secret that the former president’s office has been on a mission to strip away what it terms the “diversity, equity, and inclusion” agenda from every corner of the federal machinery. And the Kennedy Center? Well, that was the classic case of the over‑the‑top PR machine – so Trump decided to give it a face‑lift.

    2024: The Social‑Media‑Friendly Playbook for Independence Day

    On January 29th, Trump signed an executive order that is essentially a year‑long holiday calendar. The plan? “Not just one day of fireworks” – no, we’re talking a full 365‑day party across the country. It’s a salute to his campaign promise, a grand bling‑blam celebration of the 250th anniversary of the United States.

    The Kennedy Center Make‑over

    • In February, the president fired the board of trustees.
    • He appointed himself as the new chairman, essentially turning the Inside-Out of a revered arts institution.
    • “Anti‑American propaganda” was the ultimate “take it or leave it” on the floor – the center was slammed for over‑promoting military‑service imagery that didn’t resonate with the 2024 audience.
    • Trump promised a “Golden Age of American Arts and Culture”. The message? It’s about embracing traditions that feel native, not about “catering to a niche list of creators.”

    Of course the entire narrative is wrapped in a juicy dose of optimism and—yet another way—for the former president to demonstrate his “full‑circle” vision for the nation’s future.

  • US-EU trade deal wards off tariff escalation but threatens growth

    The 15% rate removes Trump’s threat of a 30% tariff. But it effectively raises the tariff on EU goods from 1.2% last year to 17%.

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    US President Donald Trump and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen have announced a sweeping trade deal that imposes 15% tariffs on most European goods, warding off Trump’s threat of a 30% rate if no deal had been reached by 1 August.
    The tariffs, or import taxes, paid when Americans buy European products could raise prices for US consumers and dent profits for European companies and their partners who bring goods into the country.

    Here are some things to know about the deal:

    Unresolved details

    Trump and von der Leyen’s announcement, made during Trump’s visit to one of his golf courses in Scotland, leaves many crucial details to be filled in.
    The headline figure is a 15% tariff rate on about 70% of European goods brought into the US, including cars, computer chips and pharmaceuticals. It’s lower than the 20% that Trump initially proposed, and lower than his threats of 50% and then 30%.
    The remaining 30% of goods are still open to further decisions and negotiations.
    Von der Leyen said that the two sides agreed on zero tariffs on both sides for a range of “strategic” goods: Aircraft and aircraft parts, certain chemicals, semiconductor equipment, certain agricultural products and some natural resources and critical raw materials. Specifics were lacking.

    She said that the two sides “would keep working” to add more products to the list.
    Additionally, companies in the European Union would purchase what Trump said was $750 billion (€638bn) worth of natural gas, oil and nuclear fuel over three years to replace Russian energy supplies that Europe is seeking to exit anyway.
    Meanwhile, European companies would invest an additional $600bn (€511bn) in the US under a political commitment that isn’t legally binding, officials said.

    Not yet in writing

    Brussels and Washington will shortly issue a joint statement that frames the deal but isn’t yet legally binding, according to senior officials who weren’t authorised to be publicly named according to European Commission policy.

    The joint statement will have “some very precise commitments and others that will need to be spelled out in different ways”, a senior European Commission official said.
    EU officials said that the zero tariff list could include nuts, pet food, dairy products and seafood.

    Steel tariff remains

    Trump said that the 50% US tariff on imported steel would remain. Von der Leyen said that the two sides agreed to further negotiations to fight a global steel glut, reduce tariffs and establish import quotas — that is, set amounts that can be imported, often at a lower rate or tariff-free.
    Trump said that pharmaceuticals, a major import from the EU to the US, weren’t included in the deal. Von der Leyen said that the pharmaceuticals issue was “on a separate sheet of paper” from Sunday’s deal.
    And von der Leyen said that when it came to farm products, the EU side made clear that “there were tariffs that could not be lowered,” without specifying which products.

    ‘Best we could do’

    The 15% rate removes Trump’s threat of a 30% tariff. But it effectively raises the tariff on EU goods from 1.2% last year to 17% and would reduce the 27-nation bloc’s gross domestic product by 0.5%, said Jack Allen-Reynolds, deputy chief eurozone economist at Capital Economics.

    Related

    US and China to talk in Stockholm as trade truce expiration nearsFive things we don’t know yet about the EU-US trade deal

    Higher tariffs, or import taxes, on European goods mean sellers in the US would have to either increase prices for consumers — risking loss of market share — or swallow the added cost in terms of lower profits. The higher tariffs are expected to hurt export earnings for European firms and slow the economy.
    Von der Leyen said that the 15% rate was “the best we could do” and credited the deal with maintaining access to the US market, and providing “stability and predictability for companies on both sides”.

    Mixed reaction

    German Chancellor Friedrich Merz welcomed the deal which avoided “an unnecessary escalation in trans-Atlantic trade relations” and said that “we were able to preserve our core interests”, while adding that “I would have very much wished for further relief in trans-Atlantic trade”.
    Senior French officials on Monday criticised the accord. Strategy Commissioner Clément Beaune said that the deal failed to reflect the bloc’s economic strength.
    “This is an unequal and unbalanced agreement,” he said. “Europe didn’t wield its strength. We are the world’s leading trading power.”
    While the rate is lower than threatened, “the big caveat to today’s deal is that there is nothing on paper, yet,” said Carsten Brzeski, global chief of macro at ING bank.
    “With this disclaimer in mind and at face value, the agreement would clearly bring an end to the uncertainty of recent months. An escalation of the US-EU trade tensions would have been a severe risk for the global economy,” Brzeski said. “This risk seems to have been avoided.”

    Car prices

    Asked if European carmakers could still profitably sell cars at 15%, von der Leyen said the rate was much lower than the current 27.5%. That has been the rate under Trump’s 25% tariff on cars from all countries, plus the pre-existing US car tariff of 2.5%.
    The impact is likely to be substantial on some companies, given that automaker Volkswagen said that it suffered a €1.3bn hit to profits in the first half of the year from the higher tariffs.
    Mercedes-Benz dealers in the US have said they were holding the line on 2025 model year prices “until further notice”. The German automaker has a partial tariff shield, because it makes 35% of the Mercedes-Benz vehicles sold in the US in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, but the company said that it expects prices to undergo “significant increases” in coming years.
    The EU also agreed to lower its tariff on cars imported from the US to 2.5% from 10%.

    Trade gap

    Before Trump returned to office, the US and the EU maintained generally low tariff levels in what is the largest bilateral trading relationship in the world, with around €1.7 trillion in annual trade.
    Together the US and the EU have 44% of the global economy. The US rate averaged 1.47% for European goods, while the EU has averaged 1.35% for American products, according to the Bruegel think tank in Brussels.
    Trump has complained about the EU’s €198bn trade surplus in goods, which shows Americans buy more from European businesses than the other way around, and has said that the European market isn’t open enough for US-made cars.
    However, American companies fill some of the trade gap by outselling the EU when it comes to services such as cloud computing, travel bookings and legal and financial services. And about 30% of European imports are from American-owned companies, according to the European Central Bank.