Tony Dokoupil agrees with President Donald Trump that the Smithsonian museums’ displays needs to be revamped.
“American historical past shouldn’t be a factor of reverence. The nation isn’t above critique,” Dokoupil mentioned of Trump’s controversial need to have the museums give attention to constructive features of American historical past — whereas downplaying darker matters akin to slavery — on the Wednesday, August 20, episode of CBS Mornings. “However we shouldn’t have a look at our historical past with contempt, both. And there’s some room for correction again towards the center.”
Dokoupil went on to state that Trump’s views match the Smithsonian’s present mission assertion. “The mission of the Smithsonian is to forge a shared historical past, a shared future, not simply context, however hope to steer the nation and communities collectively. That’s primarily the identical language that Donald Trump is providing right here,” he mentioned. “And I do suppose there’s room to say, in American historical past, what you might be describing, that technique of a journey towards greatness may be very actual, and all of us have one thing to be extremely pleased with.”
The host continued, “In the event you ask somebody, ‘Is the world and its folks higher off due to the existence of America and its folks?’ To me, the reply is definitely sure. And I believe folks strolling within the Smithsonian — after they stroll out of it, they need to get some sense of that.”
WATCH: CBS’s Tony Dokoupil delivers a MASSIVE actuality test to these saying President Trump and others wish to censor American historical past by calling on museums just like the Smithsonian to focus extra on our nation’s greatness.
Co-host Gayle King and Vlad Duthiers strongly disagreed,… pic.twitter.com/Dawxl2QUTA
— Curtis Houck (@CurtisHouck) August 20, 2025
CBS Information’ Vladimir Duthiers disagreed, stating, “We shouldn’t whitewash who we’re and the place we got here from. And so, that dialog must constantly occur in order that we constantly get higher.”
Gayle King, for her half, mentioned she hopes the assessment will probably be dealt with by “historians and specialists who know precisely what it means, ’trigger I don’t suppose there’s been an overcorrection. I believe it’s simply placing out the historical past that’s all a part of who we’re.”
Dokoupil wrapped up the dialogue by calling their dialog “so wholesome and so good,” including, “We’re having it on the 250th anniversary of the nation. It’s great.”
Earlier this month, the White Home introduced plans to launch a assessment of the Washington D.C. museum chain in honor of the nation’s milestone 250th anniversary in July 2026. “This initiative goals to make sure alignment with the President’s directive to have a good time American exceptionalism, take away divisive or partisan narratives, and restore confidence in our shared cultural establishments,” learn an August 12 letter to Smithsonian Secretary Lonnie G. Bunch III.
Trump later referred to as the museums “the final remaining section of ‘WOKE’” and “OUT OF CONTROL” in a Tuesday, August 19, Reality Social publish. “Every thing mentioned is how horrible our Nation is, how unhealthy Slavery was, and the way unaccomplished the downtrodden have been — Nothing about Success, nothing about Brightness, nothing concerning the Future,” he wrote. “We’re not going to permit this to occur, and I’ve instructed my attorneys to undergo the Museums, and begin the very same course of that has been carried out with Faculties and Universities the place super progress has been made.”
He continued, “This Nation can’t be WOKE, as a result of WOKE IS BROKE. We have now the ‘HOTTEST’ Nation within the World, and we wish folks to speak about it, together with in our Museums.”
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