Full Breakdown
Smithsonian Faces Criticism Over Refusal to Publicly Screen Conservative Documentary
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Dispute Over Screening
Black conservative filmmaker Eli Steele seeks a public showing of his documentary *White Guilt* at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture (NMAAHC). After contacting the museum in late August, Steele’s team submitted an event-application form in early September with two proposed dates. Two weeks later the museum replied that neither date was available for a public screening and, instead, offered a private-rental option at a quoted cost of $35,000. The museum has not provided alternative public dates or commented further. Steele argues the film, based on his father Shelby Steele’s 2006 book, challenges prevailing narratives about “White guilt” and racial identity.
Background and Prior Programming
The NMAAHC has previously hosted public screenings of films with progressive perspectives, including *13th* (a controversial documentary on the 13th Amendment), *Hidden Figures* (2016), *I Am Not Your Negro* (2017), and *Faith in Blackness: An Exploration of AfroLatine Spirituality* (2023). Concurrently, the Trump administration has publicly accused the Smithsonian of ideological bias and warned it may restrict discretionary grants and inter-agency cooperation.
Official Statements & Responses
The museum’s written response, as cited in correspondence reviewed by Fox News Digital, indicated that the requested public dates were unavailable and presented the private-rental offer. The institution declined to comment when approached for further remarks. The White House, through statements reported by the outlet, has threatened to limit federal support to the Smithsonian unless it addresses what officials describe as “political bias” in its exhibitions.
Criticism & Opposition
Commentators argue the museum’s handling reflects a broader liberal dominance in cultural institutions. Retired professor Carol Swain contended that the Smithsonian should be open to divergent views. Jason Riley suggested that museum leadership belongs to a “liberal intelligentsia” with vested interests in advancing a particular narrative. Conversely, Brown University professor Glenn Loury praised the documentary as a “well-made and powerful representation” deserving of the museum’s platform.
Verbatim Quotes
- “The film is professionally shot, the quality is there. A comparable film that they've shown is '13th,' which itself is a very controversial film,” — Eli Steele
- “When you look at an institution like the Smithsonian, that's supposed to belong to all of us, to all Americans, you would think that it would be open to divergent views,” — Carol Swain, a retired Black conservative professor and prominent media commentator
- “I think the type of people who run the Smithsonian Institute are part of the broader liberal intelligentsia in this country that prevails in academia, prevails and the media. And this is not a point of view. That they take kindness to,” — Jason Riley
- “I do think that they have a vested interest in putting forward a narrative out there to advance a political agenda. And I think that's what's really going on here at places like the Smithsonian,” — Jason Riley
- “Answering email does not take that much time,” — Eli Steele
- “My father, Shelby Steele, was born into segregation and has spent decades examining how America has changed, how far we have come, and what still divides us.” — Eli Steele