‘Is Mickey Mouse racist?’ Smithsonian director grilled over museum exhibits at heated House hearing

BS BRIEF:

House Republicans sharply questioned National Museum of American History Director Anthea Hartig over exhibits, educational materials and museum guidance they argued reflect ideological bias.
Rep. Brandon Gill (R-Texas) repeatedly pressed Hartig about an exhibit discussing the origins of Mickey Mouse and a museum reading resource that referenced “objectivity” and “politeness” in discussions of white supremacy culture.
Why it matters: The hearing is part of a broader congressional review of how federally funded cultural institutions present American history and educational content.

SMITHSONIAN DIRECTOR FACES POINTED QUESTIONS OVER MUSEUM EXHIBITS AND EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS

The director of the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History spent much of Tuesday defending the institution’s exhibits and educational resources during a contentious House Oversight subcommittee hearing examining whether the museum has drifted from its mission of presenting American history in a nonpartisan way.

The hearing, titled “Rewriting American History: Examining the Smithsonian’s Efforts to Reshape the Past,” featured repeated exchanges between lawmakers and museum director Dr. Anthea Hartig over exhibits, diversity initiatives and historical interpretation.

The Smithsonian promoted an exhibit that claimed Mickey Mouse was racist.

I asked the Director of the National American History Museum why… pic.twitter.com/oY7Z9l4b7D

— Brandon Gill (@realBrandonGill) July 21, 2026

One of the hearing’s most widely shared moments came when Rep. Brandon Gill asked Hartig a direct question.

“Is Mickey Mouse racist?”

Hartig replied:

“Mickey Mouse is not racist.”

Gill then cited an exhibit describing the original 1928 Steamboat Willie version of Mickey Mouse as containing “vestiges of longstanding traditions of blackface minstrelsy.”

Pressed further, Hartig responded that historians have documented the character’s historical influences and said:

“It’s not for me to determine what’s problematic. It’s for me to determine what’s accurate.”

Gill also questioned Hartig about the MASS Action Toolkit, a publication that had been used in Smithsonian staff reading groups during previous years. He pointed to passages discussing concepts such as “objectivity” and “politeness” as characteristics associated with what the publication calls “white supremacy culture.”

Asked whether the Smithsonian endorsed those ideas, Hartig answered that the museum did not create the toolkit.

“It’s not our toolkit.”

Gill countered that the Smithsonian had promoted and referenced it internally during her tenure.

Earlier in the hearing, Chairman Tim Burchett questioned Hartig about exhibits containing sexually explicit imagery, including temporary displays that featured themes involving sexuality and gender identity. Hartig responded that some of the exhibits cited were temporary installations, not intended specifically for children, and emphasized that parents should determine what content is appropriate for their families.

The hearing follows a July report issued by the White House Domestic Policy Council criticizing the Smithsonian’s approach to American history and arguing that the institution has increasingly emphasized contemporary political and social themes. Republicans cited that report repeatedly throughout Tuesday’s proceedings, while Democratic members defended the Smithsonian and argued that museums should present complex historical subjects honestly.

The Smithsonian receives substantial federal funding each year, making congressional oversight of its operations a recurring topic of debate. Tuesday’s hearing is expected to be part of a broader examination of museum programming and educational materials in the months ahead.