Three weeks after the Trump Administration’s Domestic Policy Council published a 162-page report taking aim at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History, museum director Anthea M. Hartig sat before two separate House committees to be questioned about what the report describes as the “ideological capture” of the Smithsonian. Or, as Texas Democrat and House Oversight Committee member Jasmine Crockett called it, “the Republicans’ white pride rally disguised as a Congressional hearing.”
Tuesday’s hearing before the House Oversight Committee lasted around two hours, focusing on racism, patriotism, and ideology. Wednesday’s meeting with the House Administration Committee, clocking in at an hour and a half, dealt with much of the same. Here are some of the craziest moments from the nearly four hours of questioning.
Acknowledging the land acknowledgements
At the beginning of Tuesday’s hearing, a mashup was played of Hartig giving land acknowledgements at various events. Later in the hearing, Tennessee Republican Tim Burchett asked Hartig, “Have you ever planned on deeding any of your personal property or property of the Smithsonian to any of these tribes?” Confused, Hartig replied that she didn’t believe that was pertinent to the conversation.
Reading (up on RuPaul) is fundamental
The shade toward RuPaul was real throughout the first hearing. Early on, Burchett introduced a poster with photos of different “sexually explicit” museum artifacts, including a poster of RuPaul. Burchett said, “You have some transgender folks, I assume that’s what they are.” When someone in the audience corrected him, saying “It’s RuPaul,” he responded, “I don’t care who it is, not a fan.” Later, South Carolina Republican Nancy Mace used the same poster as a visual aid while she asked Hartig repeatedly, “Do you think men can become women?” When Hartig tried to explain that RuPaul is not transgender, Mace responded, “RuPaul is a man who dresses like a woman, literally.” New Mexico Democrat Melanie Stansbury encouraged everyone in the room to learn more if they can, saying, “If you want to come over, we can watch Drag Race, we can have some cocktails, I think you’ll have a different opinion once you watch it.”
Pass the Phenergan
North Carolina Republican Greg Murphy questioned Hartig about whether there was a “gun rights” exhibit in the museum. Hartig said that they have a gun collection, and that she would be “honored” to give Murphy a tour. Murphy, who is a doctor, responded no, and that he’d “have to take a lot of Phenergan before I went on a tour.” Phenergan, for the non-doctors among us, is used to treat nausea, among other things.
Not invited to the clubhouse
After questioning Hartig about white supremacy, Texas Republican Brandon Gill then asked her, “Is Mickey Mouse racist?” After Hartig replied “no,” Gill then referenced an exhibit that points to the design of Mickey Mouse being inspired by the racist minstrel shows of the 19th century. When Hartig attempted to explain the placard, Gill responded, “Mickey Mouse is rooted in racism. Is that your testimony?”
Running on Latina power
Gill also had another question: “What is Latina power?” After reconfirming several times that that was actually his question, Hartig replied, “The forces derived from being a Latina.” Gill then questioned whether it was “appropriate” that the museum sells merchandise with the words “Latina power” on it—to which Hartig responded that she thinks it is.
Pro-Life debates
While most representatives chose to interrogate Hartig about a wide range of issues, Colorado Republican Lauren Boebert had one thing in mind: abortion. She took issue with the fact that Hartig changed the museum’s mission statement to “empowering people to create a more just and compassionate future,” and then asked, “What about the tens of millions of aborted babies?” When Hartig responded that she wasn’t there to debate abortion, Boebert chastised her for not including aborted babies in museum exhibits, asking her if she only cares about “racism and making people feel guilty.”
