A liberal Democratic congressman, Ritchie Torres, claimed that Mr. Trump was “poisoning” the institution. A Democratic strategist, Julie Roginsky, claimed it was part of a larger campaign by Mr. Trump to change American history and even “whitewash” slavery at the Smithsonian.

CNN's Abby Phillip questions the Trump Administration's actions about The Kennedy Center and Ric Grenell being put in charge: ABBY PHILLIP: There is an ideological bent to how they have tried to manage this place.