Smithsonian Chief Lonnie Bunch to Retire Amid Trump Administration Tensions

The head of the Smithsonian announced on Wednesday that he will retire by the end of the year, following months of attacks from the Trump White House. Here is a look at the announcement and the growing tension between the Trump administration and the Smithsonian Institution.

Smithsonian Institution Secretary Announces He Will Retire by End of the Year

Smithsonian Institution Secretary Lonnie G. Bunch III is stepping away from his role leading the nation's prestigious network of museums in Washington, D.C. Bunch is distinguished as the first Black leader of the institution that encompasses 21 museums as well as the National Zoo.

Bunch acknowledged that the decision comes with "mixed emotions and heartfelt gratitude." After serving in the role for seven years, Bunch said that “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."

The decision to leave the post comes as the Trump administration has increased its rhetoric against the institution for what it claims is a "woke" bias of U.S. history. Led by President Donald Trump, the administration has put the Smithsonian under the microscope, claiming that it is putting too much emphasis on themes of racism and inequality while downplaying the most notable achievements in the nation's history.

In a new interview with The New York Times, Bunch said that he did not feel pressure to step down from the Trump administration. However, he did admit that it has been "stressful" serving under this White House.

The 73-year-old is known for his ability to not sugarcoat some of the country's darkest periods and present them to the country fairly and sensitively. Bunch worked for the Smithsonian Institution for decades prior to taking on the role of secretary. During his 38-year tenure, he led some of the institution's most significant projects. Most notably, Bunch founded the well-received National Museum of African American History and Culture.

Supreme Court Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. released a statement about Bunch's retirement, praising him for his commitment to pursue "excellence in the telling of our nation’s story” and that the institution “benefited greatly from his wisdom, vision, and leadership.” Serving as the head of the Board of Regents, Roberts said that “We look forward to working with him in the coming months to ensure a smooth transition for his successor."

History of Relationship Between Trump and Bunch

Although Trump once heaped praise on Bunch for his work, the president has more recently tried to influence the direction of the institution. In March of 2025, Trump signed an executive order titled “Restoring Truth and Sanity to American History." The order formally objected to what the president said was an intentional effort to downplay the country's greatest success stories. A few months later, the White House triggered a review of the Smithsonian aimed at identifying several programs or exhibits they deemed were divisive or too ideological.

The tension between the institution and Trump escalated when the White House published a report that accused the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History of promoting "extreme political activism" and pushing its own ideological agenda. The report was met with disdain from the Organization of American Historians. The largest group of scholars of U.S. history condemned the report, calling it one "part of an ongoing and multi-pronged assault by the Trump administration against accurate and evidence-based history in American public life."

Although Bunch has been routinely praised for how he has fought back against the pressure from the White House, others have accused him of not going far enough. More fuel was added to the fire last year when Kim Sajet resigned from her position directing the National Portrait Gallery. Trump initially said that he fired Sajet for being "a highly partisan person, and a strong supporter of DEI." However, the president does not have the authority to make these types of hiring decisions. According to a statement from the Smithsonian, only the secretary and its board have the power to make these types of decisions.

The pressure from the White House was on full display last summer at the National Museum of American History, the country's flagship history museum. Curators came under fire when they removed references to Trump's impeachment. The museum later restored the references with some changes.

During that same time period, artist Amy Sherald canceled her exhibition scheduled to appear at the Smithsonian’s National Portrait Gallery. Critics said that Sherald's painting depicting the Statue of Liberty as a transgender woman was not appropriate.

While Bunch has successfully walked the tightrope between holding up the integrity of the museum and not bowing to political pressure during his tenure, he has at times seemed to acknowledge that Trump and his supporters are trying to influence the exhibits. In a recent essay in the Smithsonian Institution magazine, Bunch said that "We must tell the unvarnished histories of the extraordinary and the ordinary, the moments of glory and infamy alike.....An incomplete telling of our past, with rough edges smoothed, inhibits the country’s ability to forge a better shared future."

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