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Smithsonian Institution's Bunch III Steps Down Amid White House Criticism
Confirmed
In Short: Bunch III, the Smithsonian's first Black secretary, is stepping down after years of political attacks from the Trump administration.
Smithsonian Institution's first Black secretary, Bunch III, is stepping down after more than a year of escalating attacks from the White House over how the institution presents U.S. history. Bunch, 73, has led the Smithsonian since 2019 and plans to remain in his role through the end of the year, the Smithsonian said.
According to reports, Bunch has been a frequent target of President Donald Trump's administration, which has threatened to withhold federal support from the Smithsonian. In a statement, Bunch expressed his gratitude for the opportunity to serve, saying, 'I have spent nearly half of my life working at and being part of the Smithsonian family, and what a privilege it has been.
Since 2025, the White House has published articles and statements criticizing the Smithsonian's exhibits and museums, with Trump himself taking to social media to express his views. In one post, Trump claimed that the Smithsonian focuses too much on 'how bad slavery was' and 'how unaccomplished the downtrodden have been.
However, Bunch has defended the Smithsonian's work, stating in a memo to staff that the report was 'not a fair characterization of the work.' He added, 'There is no place like the Smithsonian—it has been one of the great loves of my life, and I am extraordinarily proud of what we have accomplished together.
Mike Gonzalez, senior fellow at The Heritage Foundation, echoed Bunch's sentiments, saying, 'We can only hope that the next Secretary of the Smithsonian will not treat the Institution as a battleground for his culture wars.' Bunch's departure marks the end of nearly four decades at the Smithsonian, where he worked in various roles before becoming secretary.
What's still developing
- But Trump’s rhetoric doesn’t tell the full story.
- 19, 2025, Trump took to his social media platform to post about what he believes are the failures of the Smithsonian when it comes to depicting the experiences of Black Americans.
- Though the Smithsonian explores the brutal chapters of U.S.