Smithsonian Secretary Lonnie Bunch III will step down at year’s end, marking the end of his tenure as the first African American to lead the institution. His departure follows sustained criticism from the current administration over the museum’s historical exhibits and perceived bias in its presentations. While citing personal reasons for leaving, Bunch acknowledged the added stress of political scrutiny targeting the Smithsonian’s independence. The move raises questions about the future of the nation’s largest museum complex amid ongoing debates over its role in shaping public narratives.
‘I have to be honest, it has been stressful,’ Lonnie Bunch III saysThe Smithsonian Institution’s secretary, Lonnie Bunch III, will retire at the end of the year amid Donald Trump’s attacks on the museum’s content and independence.Bunch, who was appointed in 2019 as the first African American to lead the museums, cited personal reasons for departing, while acknowledging the pressure that the president’s attacks on the Smithsonian’s depictions of US history had taken. Continue reading...
