Witness urges Smithsonian to 'fix the Smithsonian' and opposes proposed Latino Museum

Miguel Gonzalez, testifying during a hearing, urged Smithsonian leadership to address problems within the institution and asked the board of regents not to build the proposed Latino Museum. He told the panel: "Fix the Smithsonian, work with the board of regents, and for heaven's sakes, do not build the Latino Museum."

Gonzalez framed his opposition as rooted in both personal experience and what he described as a broader cultural argument: he said exhibits curated by people he characterized as sympathetic to communist perspectives risk portraying capitalism as harmful to Hispanic communities. "It is going to be an incubator of hatred and grievances against The United States," he said, asserting that the exhibit narrative would inflame division rather than foster understanding.

Gonzalez identified himself in testimony as someone who left Cuba more than 50 years ago and who has worked in journalism and policy circles; he said he had written for The Wall Street Journal and spent time at the Heritage Foundation. He said he had already testified earlier that day on a Smithsonian-related matter and planned to return to testify again.

The witness named Jorge Amanillo while noting limitations on what an individual curator can change, and he urged the Smithsonian and its board to address the issues he raised before moving forward on new museum projects. The transcript does not record any response from Smithsonian officials or other panelists during his allotted remarks, and no formal motion or vote on the museum was recorded in the provided excerpt. The hearing continued after the witness concluded.