Lonnie Bunch, the historian and author who has led the Smithsonian Institution as its secretary since 2019, announced his retirement, effective at the end of the year. His departure follows months of escalating pressure and accusations from President Donald Trump's administration that the national museums under his leadership presented a biased and divisive narrative of the United States.
In a statement, Bunch expressed mixed emotions and gratitude, saying, “It is time for my next chapter, a chapter that will allow me to continue to protect the integrity of the Smithsonian and to champion the importance of a history that illuminates and celebrates the complex story of our nation.”
Chief Justice John Roberts, who serves as the Smithsonian's chancellor, commended Bunch, stating, "Secretary Bunch has pursued excellence in the telling of our nation's story."
Bunch, the Smithsonian's first Black leader, took the helm after developing and opening the National Museum of African American History and Culture, an institution that has faced significant criticism from Trump and conservatives. The Trump administration's pressure on Bunch and the Smithsonian has been viewed by critics as a broader effort to promote a conservative perspective on American history. A White House report released in July accused Smithsonian leaders of engaging in 'anti-white activism' and presenting exhibitions that were 'divisive or anti-American.'
In response to the report, Bunch sent a memo to staff asserting that the report was not a fair characterization of the National Museum of American History's work. Trump criticized the Smithsonian on social media for focusing too much on the country's negative aspects.
Last week, the Trump administration sent a letter threatening to reduce federal agencies' support for the Smithsonian. Bunch defended his approach in an essay, emphasizing the need to tell 'unvarnished histories.'
This pressure campaign is part of a pattern. In May, Trump announced his intention to fire Kim Sajet, director of the National Portrait Gallery, who resigned the following month. In March, Trump signed an executive order directing Vice President JD Vance to remove 'improper, divisive or anti-American ideology' from the institution.
