According to the New York Times, the White House wants information next week about the activities of the Smithsonian museums, which, unlike other American museums, are largely government-funded.
In August, the president expressed his frustration on Truth Social:
“The Smithsonian is OUT OF CONTROL, all that is discussed there is how terrible our country is, how bad slavery was,” he wrote, calling for a focus on the nation's successes and future.
Smithsonian management has agreed to deliver documents about the operations at eight of the 21 museums, the New York Times writes, but what has been submitted so far is not sufficient, according to the White House.
In a letter to Smithsonian Director Lonnie G. Bunch, White House officials point out that the institution's budget depends on government funds that are "only available" for use in a manner consistent with executive directives.
