Donald Trump allegedly made special requests not to see anything "difficult" during his first visit to the National Museum of African American History and Culture in 2017. 

According to a detailed account from Smithsonian Secretary Lonnie G. Bunch III, Trump apparently had some reservations about seeing the harsh realities of racism. Slate reports Trump had an obsession with one exhibit in particular. During the 2017 visit, he reportedly wanted to see an exhibit recounting the role the Dutch played in the slave trade. 

“The president paused in front of the exhibit that discussed the role of the Dutch in the slave trade,” Bunch said. “As he pondered the label, I felt that maybe he was paying attention to the work of the museum. He quickly proved me wrong. As he turned from the display he said to me, ‘You know, they love me in the Netherlands.’ All I could say was 'let’s continue walking.'"

The excerpt — from his forthcoming memoir A Fool’s Errand: Creating the National Museum of African American History and Culture in the Age of Bush, Obama and Trump — claimed Trump missed the entire purpose of the exhibit. Aides said the president was in a bad mood and was not interested in seeing the more difficult exhibits. Instead of reckoning with the wide-reaching effect of the slave trade, the real estate mogul turned president made it about himself. 

“I was so disappointed in his response to one of the greatest crimes against humanity in history," Bunch wrote. "Here was a chance to broaden the views and the understanding of the incoming president and I had been less successful than I had expected.”

In addition to his self-centered response, Trump reportedly wanted to close the museum on the MLK holiday. According to The Washington Post, Bunch thought the president's request was ludicrous. So, they decided on a different day to accommodate Trump. The MLK holiday happens to be one of the busiest times for the museum. The idea of shutting out eager visitors never was an idea worth considering for Bunch. 

“The notion that we could shut out visitors on the first King holiday since the opening of the museum was not something I could accept,” Bunch wrote. 

The newly-appointed head of the museum was not bending over backward to please Trump's "foul mood."

“It was not my job to make the rough edges of history smooth, even for the president,” Bunch wrote.