Rep. Brandon Gill Questions Smithsonian Official on Mickey Mouse Exhibit

Rep. Brandon Gill (R-TX) questioned Anthea Hartig, director of the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History, during a House Oversight Subcommittee hearing on the museum's exhibit that links Mickey Mouse's origins to blackface minstrelsy. Gill asked whether Mickey Mouse was considered racist, referencing the exhibit's description of the character as having 'vestiges of longstanding traditions of blackface minstrelsy.' Hartig responded that while Mickey Mouse is not racist, historians have noted the character's early origins in minstrel traditions. The discussion also included Gill's inquiries about internal Smithsonian materials addressing 'white supremacy culture' and the museum's sale of 'Latina Power' merchandise. Hartig defended the museum's commitment to objectivity and nonpartisanship, stating that the Smithsonian does not promote any political ideology. The hearing follows a White House report criticizing the Smithsonian for allegedly prioritizing progressive activism over objective scholarship.