CBS’ Dokoupil on People Criticizing Trump over Smithsonian: ‘We Shouldn’t Look at Our History with Contempt’

EXCERPT:

DOKOUPIL: “American history shouldn’t be a thing of reverence. The country’s not above critique. But we shouldn’t look at our history with contempt either. And I think there is some room for a correction back toward the middle. And in fact, you know, Lonnie Bunch, who heads the Smithsonian, and Donald Trump and his administration —“
KING: “He’s done an amazing job. Amazing job.”
DOKOUPIL: “— in a letter they’re — they are saying quite the same things. The mission of the Smithsonian is to forge a shared history, a shared future, not just context, but hope to lead the country and communities together. That’s essentially the same language that Donald Trump is offering here. And I do think there’s room to say, in American history, what you are describing, that process of a journey toward greatness, is very real. And we all have something to be incredibly proud of. And you talk about overseas. I think the world and its people, if you ask — if you ask someone, is the world and its people better off because of the existence of America and its people? To me, the answer is unquestionably yes. And I think people walking in the Smithsonian, when they walk out of it, they should get some sense of that.”