The executive order states that temporary signs “direct visitors to locations and resources where they can find accurate information about the history of the United States.”
Trump administration reviews Smithsonian museums for partisan content
The Trump administration has ordered the Smithsonian Institution to bring its exhibits in line with American exceptionalism.
President Donald Trump said he has ordered signs to be placed outside the National Museum of American History warning visitors that the American historical accounts inside are inaccurate.
Visitors entering the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C., could see temporary signs and exhibits warning them of what was inside the space, according to a July 24 executive order directing the Interior Department to issue the warning.
The order was issued after the White House released a 162-page report on July 4 challenging the Smithsonian Institution’s depiction of American history. A report by the White House Domestic Policy Council said the National Museum of American History is a “tool” of “radical and activist groups” seeking to reshape “the American narrative to serve ideological ends.”
Trump’s latest order says signs should inform visitors that museum exhibits “should be renovated consistent with the findings” of the White House report. His order said the new signage would “direct visitors to places and resources where they can find accurate information about American history.”
Neither the White House nor the Smithsonian Institution immediately responded to emailed requests for comment.
The order also said the museum failed to “appropriately honor” the signers of the Declaration of Independence in commemoration of the United States’ 250th anniversary. President Trump ordered federal officials to install temporary exhibits and signage on trails, walkways and other areas maintained by the National Park Service to correct “inaccurate information presented within the museum.”
Days earlier, Republican lawmakers had strongly criticized National Museum Director Anthea Hartig during a Congressional hearing. Rep. Tim Burchett (R-Tenn.), chairman of the House Oversight Committee, said in a July 21 hearing that museums are “infected with woke ideology,” pointing to the White House report’s findings.
“This report makes clear that the museum’s awakened exhibits and materials reflect a broader vision held by the museum’s leadership, particularly Director Dr. Anthea Hartig,” Burchett said.
Hartig, who has led the museum since 2019, said the White House report did not “fairly and accurately” characterize the museum’s efforts. In reframing traditional narratives, she added, the museum is adding evidence and voices so more Americans can see themselves reflected in the nation’s story, including the Declaration, Revolution, Constitution, and national symbols.
“We will tell the truth about a time when this country fell short of its founding ideals,” she told lawmakers. “Telling our story fully is a form of respect for the American people and a commitment to always seeking a more perfect union.”
On July 25, it was unclear whether warning signs had been placed outside the museum as per President Trump’s order. The Park Service and the Department of the Interior did not immediately respond to emailed requests for comment. The museum is open and open to the public every day except Christmas.
Eduardo Cuevas is based in New York City. Contact us via email (emcuevas1@usatoday.com) or Signal (emcuevas.01).
