James Smithson

Inside the behemoth Smithsonian museum network drawing fire from the Trump administration

The Smithsonian Institution, a large group of museums in Washington, D.C., is being criticized by President Donald Trump and some conservatives. They say the museums show too much left‑wing political messaging. The Smithsonian is the world’s biggest museum network, started in 1846 with money from British scientist James Smithson. It now includes many museums and research centers that reach millions of visitors each year.