Head of Smithsonian museums announces he will be stepping down

The head of the Smithsonian Institution will be stepping down from his position by the end of the year, following pressure from the administration of United States President Donald Trump.In a statement on Tuesday, Lonnie Bunch announced he was leaving the institution, an organisation that oversees one of the world’s largest collections of museums and educational and research centres.Recommended Stories list of 3 itemslist 1 of 3Trump admin orders Smithsonian museums to be reviewed for ‘Americanism’list 2 of 3Trump says Smithsonian museums only cover ‘how bad Slavery was’ in USlist 3 of 3Why is Trump going after the Smithsonian museums?end of list“I leave with pride and sadness, gratitude and joy, and with enormous confidence in the people who will carry this remarkable institution forward,” Bunch said.“It is time for my next chapter, a chapter that will allow me to continue to protect the integrity of the Smithsonian and to champion the importance of a history that illuminates and celebrates the complex story of our nation.”Many of the Smithsonian’s museums occupy a place of pride on the National Mall in Washington, DC.But since the start of Trump’s second term as US president, the...