The director of the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History was intensely grilled Tuesday by U.S. Rep. Brandon Gill, R-Texas, who asked outright if she were a white supremacist based on the museum’s own policies.
The congressional hearing comes in the wake of a scathing 162-page report from the White House on July 4 accusing the Smithsonian Institution of engaging in “extreme political activism” and presenting “a radical view of American history.”
In one telling exchange, Gill asked Anthea Hartig: “Is it important to be polite?
“Yes, sir,” the museum chief responded.
Gill continued: “That’s also interesting because the same MASS Action Toolkit that your organization has been promoting references politeness as a defining characteristic of white supremacy culture. Ma’am, are you a white supremacist?”
Hartig replied, “Hmm, no, sir.”
Gill pressed: “Can you help me square why your organization says that being polite is part of being a white supremacist?”
Hartig replied: “I’m not exactly familiar with that passage of the MASS Action Toolkit.”
“I can show you the passage,” said Gill. “I just read you the passage from it.”
.@RepBrandonGill: “Can you help me square why your organization says that being polite is part of being a White supremacist?”
Smithsonian Museum of American History Director: “I’m not exactly familiar with that passage…”@RepBrandonGill: “I can show you the passage.” https://t.co/qYCWZ33NSb pic.twitter.com/gGeBtRKqnZ
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) July 21, 2026
In a similar line of questioning, Gill asked Hartig: “Is Mickey Mouse racist?”
.@RepBrandonGill: “Is Mickey Mouse racist?”
Rep. Gill confronted the Director of the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History after we uncovered an exhibit that called Mickey racist for allegedly symbolizing blackface.
She did not know what to say. pic.twitter.com/IAuTYmXwf4
— Oversight Committee (@GOPoversight) July 21, 2026
Gill posted some clips of his questions on X, and noted: “The Smithsonian’s American History Museum promotes a Mass Action Toolkit that calls objectivity a defining trait of white supremacy culture.
“So I asked the Director if she’s promoting white supremacy. She froze, grabbed her notepad, and started writing.”
During actual testimony, Gill asked Hartig: “Are you promoting a white supremacy culture at the Smithsonian?”
“Ma’am, is this a difficult question?”
The Smithsonian’s American History Museum promotes a Mass Action Toolkit that calls objectivity a defining trait of white supremacy culture.
So I asked the Director if she’s promoting white supremacy. She froze, grabbed her notepad, and started writing. pic.twitter.com/LSWjuROEAP
— Congressman Brandon Gill (@RepBrandonGill) July 21, 2026
During her opening remarks to lawmakers in the House Subcommittee on Delivering Government Efficiency hearing titled “Rewriting American History: Examining the Smithsonian’s Efforts to Reshape the Past,” Hartig denied any promotion of certain ideologies.
“Our work is governed by the Smithsonian standards of scholarship, accuracy, independence, and nonpartisanship,” she said.
“The museum does not take sides in America’s political debates. We preserve and document the evidence of American life in all of its breadth, so that the public can encounter the past and draw their own conclusions.”
Donald Trump Jr. said Hartig’s testimony is “Worth watching. Gill absolutely wrecks this woke leftist lunatic!!!!”
WATCH BRANDON GILL’S 5-MINUTE QUESTIONING OF ANTHEA HARTIG:
Brandon Gill vs. the woke Director of the Smithsonian American History Museum.
Well worth the 5 minutes… pic.twitter.com/7drJ2L3R34
— Greg Price (@greg_price11) July 21, 2026
Follow Joe on X @JoeKovacsNews
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