Swalwell on Trump Attacking the Smithsonian: ‘Who Is This Guy? … Like a Lobbyist on Behalf of Slavery?’

BOLDUAN: “I just talked to Brian Stelter about something else that President Trump is very focused on, his latest move, posting on social media going after the Smithsonian Institution and museums. And he already has ordered a review of it, but now saying that apparently he wants it to go further and review of all of the content in the museums. What he’s suggesting is he says the Smithsonian is out of control, but also suggesting that museums are focusing too much on the way he puts in part how bad slavery was. And he wants to take on the Smithsonian, just like he says he has taken on colleges and universities. Do you think that will work here? What do you think he’s saying?”
Swalwell: “Who is this guy? Is he a publicist for slavery, like a lobbyist on behalf of slavery? It doesn’t make any sense that he would want to erase one of the ugliest things that’s ever happened in America and educate our children, especially about how we make sure it doesn’t happen again. He’s done the same thing with another ugly day in America, January 6th. He’s tried to erase that day and take the heroes of that day, the police officers, and make them the villains so that he also erases his own responsibility. This is what he does. And the question is, will the Smithsonian cave? Colleges have caved. Law firms have caved. Entertainment companies have caved. The lesson that I’ve taken away from this is if you band together and show strength in numbers, you can stand up to this bully. But if you do these one-off drug deals, it just reduces who we are as a country and gets us one step closer toward authoritarianism.”
BOLDUAN: “It’s also putting people in the position, I mean, we just had a Republican congressman on who — John rightfully asked, like, what is your take on what the president’s putting out here and putting Republicans in the position of reminding everyone that they think slavery is bad? I mean, just where the focus then becomes again, I’m not sure what to do with it.”
Swalwell: “I’m not sure what to do with Republican congressmen who are not willing to be a check, because in an ideal scenario —”
BOLDUAN: “In his defense, he said slavery is bad. So we’ll just — [crosstalk]”
Swalwell: “Well, good, but he also, you know, can fund the Smithsonian then when we vote on a budget and say, keep the slavery exhibits there. And the president also took the impeachment exhibits out in the section that covers Congress and the executive. Again, he can rewrite history, but he can’t erase what actually happened. And he makes our children less educated when he does that.”