The board of the United States Holocaust Museum has undergone changes during the first 100 days of former President Donald Trump's second term. The board is composed of 68 members, 55 of whom are appointed by the president and meets twice a year. Trump removed several board members appointed by the previous administration, including Doug Emhoff, husband of former Vice President Kamala Harris.
Emhoff, who is of the Jewish faith and tasked with leading the fight against antisemitism during the Biden Administration, expressed his concern about the politicization of Holocaust commemoration and education. In a statement, Emhoff emphasized that "turning one of the worst atrocities in history into a controversial issue is dangerous and dishonors the memory of the six million Jews murdered by the Nazis."
In addition to changes in the Holocaust Museum's board, Trump also dismissed the board of the Kennedy Center and declared himself its president. He signed an executive order to eliminate what he called "anti-American ideology" from the Smithsonian Institution, responsible for managing the major museums in the capital.
White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt announced that Trump plans to appoint new members to the board who will not only honor the memory of the Holocaust victims but will also be strong advocates for the State of Israel. Among those dismissed was also Alan Solomont, former U.S. ambassador to Spain, appointed by Biden in May 2023.
The United States Holocaust Museum, located in Washington and funded by the federal government and private entities, plays a crucial role in the education and commemoration of one of the darkest tragedies in history.
