Smithsonian Museum Smears George Washington as 'Town Destroyer,' Ignites Outrage Over Anti-American Revisionism
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A controversial exhibit at the National Museum of the American Indian in New York labels George Washington a 'town destroyer,' drawing criticism for omitting crucial context and prompting the Trump administration to scrutinize the Smithsonian’s increasingly negative portrayal of American history.
The National Museum of the American Indian in Manhattan has sparked outrage by displaying a portrait of George Washington with a label calling him a 'town destroyer,' a term used by the Haudenosaunee for Washington and U.S. presidents. The exhibit highlights the destruction of 40 Iroquois towns and the burning of harvests by American forces, but conveniently omits the critical context of brutal raids on American settlements that led to Washington’s campaign, as well as the necessity behind his military decisions.
The 'Native New York' exhibit fixates on the suffering of Native communities, offering little context about the broader conflict and the difficult choices facing the Continental Army. While the exhibit briefly cites a National Park Service excerpt noting that Indigenous and Loyalist raids in 1778 crippled the Continental Army, this essential perspective is buried beneath a narrative that paints the founding of the United States in the darkest possible light.
This biased presentation comes as the Trump administration rightly reviews Smithsonian exhibits for historical accuracy, warning that continued anti-American revisionism and divisive content could lead to changes in federal funding. The administration’s scrutiny reflects growing concerns that taxpayer dollars are being used to undermine national pride and distort the nation’s founding.
Critics point out that other displays at the museum similarly exaggerate violence against Native peoples while downplaying or ignoring Native aggression. For example, a placard claims that peace ended when 'white men' began their revolution, and a video accuses an American soldier of killing Lenape chief White Eyes, even though the true cause of his death is still disputed.
The museum’s educational materials for middle schools further push this agenda, framing the American Revolution as a disruptive project and labeling colonists as trespassers—language that undermines the legitimacy of the nation’s founding. The museum store promotes books that attack U.S. history, including titles accusing the country of being founded on white supremacy and genocide.
When contacted for comment, the Smithsonian declined to respond, refusing to address concerns about its slanted and divisive portrayal of American history.