The administration of United States President Donald Trump is said to be 'exploring ways' of taking control of the 9/11 Memorial and Museum in New York City.
The site, which is located in lower Manhattan where the World Trade Center's Twin Towers were destroyed by hijacked jetliners on 11 September, 2001, has been run by a public charity, now chaired by former NYC Mayor Michael Bloomberg, an outspoken critic of the 79-year-old Republican.
According to AP, on Friday (5 September), the White House confirmed that the Trump administration has had 'preliminary exploratory discussions' about the idea of whether the federal government can take control of the memorial and museum, but did not elaborate.
Additionally, the office reportedly noted that Trump pledged during his campaign last year to make the site a national monument, protected and maintained by the federal government.
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However, officials at the museum have hit out at such a prospect, stating that, under current laws, the federal government can't unilaterally 'take over' the 9/11 Memorial and Museum, which is on land owned by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey.
Beth Hillman, the organisation’s president and CEO, has also said that the US government fronting the costs and management of the museum 'makes no sense' given Trump's continuous efforts to cut back the federal bureaucracy.
"At a time when the federal government is working to cut costs, assuming the full operating expenses for the site makes no sense," she said.
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"We’re proud that our exhibitions tell stories of bravery and patriotism and are confident that our current operating model has served the public honourably and effectively," Hillman continued, adding that the organisation has raised $750 million in private funds and welcomed around 90 million people since it opened.
Just last year alone, the museum generated over a staggering $93 million in revenue and spent roughly $84 million on operating costs. This leaves a nearly $9 million surplus when depreciation is taken into account, according to museum officials and its most recently available tax filings.
New York Governor Kathy Hochul also added: "The 9/11 Memorial belongs to New Yorkers - the families, survivors, and first responders who have carried this legacy for more than two decades and ensured we never forget.
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"Before he meddles with this sacred site, the President should start by honouring survivors and supporting the families of victims."
Tyla has reached out to the White House for comment.
Trump administration's recent efforts to seemingly influence how American history is told through its national monuments and museums, including the Smithsonian, have been widely criticised online.
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One of the latest claims that Trump is trying to 'rewrite history' followed his scathing comments about 'woke' museums that teach 'how bad slavery was'.
"The Museums throughout Washington, but all over the Country are, essentially, the last remaining segment of 'WOKE'," he ranted on Truth Social last month.
"The Smithsonian is OUT OF CONTROL, where everything discussed is how horrible our Country is, how bad Slavery was, and how unaccomplished the downtrodden have been - Nothing about Success, nothing about Brightness, nothing about the Future."
Trump went on to declare: "We are not going to allow this to happen, and I have instructed my attorneys to go through the Museums, and start the exact same process that has been done with Colleges and Universities where tremendous progress has been made."
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He then rounded off the seriously shocking post, concluding: "This Country cannot be WOKE, because WOKE IS BROKE. We have the 'HOTTEST' Country in the World, and we want people to talk about it, including in our Museums."
Topics: Donald Trump, Politics, US News, News
Rhiannon Ingle