Trump's Smithsonian criticism contrasts with 2017 praise

President Trump has changed his tune on the Smithsonian's depiction of America's past since he visited the National Museum of African American History in 2017.

Following that visit to the newly opened museum, Trump was full of praise.

“It's a new, beautiful Smithsonian museum that serves as a shining example of African Americans’ incredible contributions to our culture, our society and our history,” Trump said months into his first term. 

“It also tells of the great struggle for freedom and equality that prevailed against the sins of slavery and the injustice of discrimination. The work and love of the people who helped create such a masterpiece is a testament to the legacy of so many leaders,” he added. 

The president added in the February 2017 remarks that "nothing" was more important than his promise to continue "freedom for African Americans and for every American."

"This tour was a meaningful reminder of why we have to fight bigotry, intolerance and hatred in all of its very ugly forms," he added.

Those comments returned to the spotlight on Tuesday after Trump announced a review of the Smithsonian's museums for what he called a "woke" lens on American history.

“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,” the president wrote Tuesday in a Truth Social post.

“We are not going to allow this to happen, and I have instructed my attorneys to go through the Museums, and start the exact same process that has been done with Colleges and Universities where tremendous progress has been made,” Trump wrote. “This Country cannot be WOKE, because WOKE IS BROKE.”

Trump has declared museum exhibitions must be brought into “alignment” with his objective to “celebrate American exceptionalism, remove divisive or partisan narratives, and restore confidence in our shared cultural institutions.”

The Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of American History removed an exhibit earlier this month referencing Trump’s two impeachments, drawing fire from Democrats.

Trump also forced out National Portrait Gallery Director Kim Sajet, the first woman to helm the institution.

Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-Calif.) slammed Trump's latest comments during a Tuesday appearance on CNN. 

“Is he a publicist for slavery, like a lobbyist on behalf of slavery?" he asked. "It doesn't make any sense that he would want to erase one of the ugliest things that's ever happened in America and educate our children, especially about how we make sure it doesn't happen again.”

David Axelrod, a former top adviser to former President Obama, remarked on the notable contrast between first-term and second-term Trump.

"I find myself weirdly nostalgic for the @POTUS Trump who once recognized 'the great struggle for freedom and equality that prevailed against the sins of slavery,' and the value and importance of enshrining that history at the Smithsonian," Axelrod wrote on the social platform X. "Now he wants to expunge it."