WATCH: ‘Shocking’ Ben Franklin smear leaves Smithsonian chief with ‘no regrets’ - Fox News

What the report says

Fox News reported that Smithsonian National Museum of American History Director Anthea Hartig told House lawmakers she had “no regrets” about exhibits mounted during her tenure, while acknowledging the museum has made mistakes. The exchange came during Capitol Hill hearings in which Republican members questioned whether the museum has promoted political activism through its displays and programming.

A central point of criticism was a special exhibit, “The Electric Dr. Franklin,” which opened in 2021 and remained on view through 2025, according to Fox. Heritage Foundation expert Mike Gonzalez testified that the exhibit raised the possibility that Benjamin Franklin may have used enslaved or indentured people in electrical experiments without presenting evidence. He called the suggestion “shocking” and said it amounted to a smear of a founding figure. Fox also cited current Smithsonian web material saying Franklin documented using himself, relatives and friends in experiments, while noting that enslaved or indentured people in his household “could” have been involved, though certainty may be impossible.

Rep. Brian Jack, a Georgia Republican, pressed Hartig on whether she regretted any exhibits. Hartig said she was proud of the museum’s work but conceded errors occur, giving as an example a mislabeled coin in an American presidency exhibit that the museum corrected.

The hearings followed a White House Domestic Policy Council report accusing the museum of ideological capture and activist interpretation of U.S. history. Hartig testified that the Smithsonian was reviewing the report but said it did not fairly represent the museum’s overall work. Fox said it sought additional comment from the Smithsonian, the museum and Gonzalez.