Trump Issues Executive Order to "Restore Truth and Sanity" at Smithsonian
On Thursday, President Donald Trump announced an initiative aimed at bringing "truth and sanity" back to the Smithsonian Institution, asserting that the museum system has displayed signs of ideological bias in recent years.
Trump's executive order emphasized that Americans have recently "witnessed a concerted and widespread effort to rewrite our Nation’s history, replacing objective facts with a distorted narrative driven by ideology rather than truth."
The order further claimed that the Smithsonian has "come under the influence of a divisive, race-centered ideology," which has diminished the credibility of the historic institution.
As part of his remarks, Trump cited an exhibit at the Smithsonian American Art Museum, "The Shape of Power: Stories of Race and American Sculpture," which argues that "sculpture has been a powerful tool in promoting scientific racism."
He also referenced a controversial incident involving the National Museum of African American History and Culture, which previously suggested that attributes like "hard work" and "individualism" were inherently "White" cultural traits.
The president also raised concerns over "the forthcoming Smithsonian American Women’s History Museum plans on celebrating the exploits of male athletes participating in women’s sports."
Additionally, Trump pointed to a 2023 incident at the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum, where South Carolina students were reportedly told to remove their pro-life hats while visiting during the March for Life event.
The executive order outlined a clear position: "Museums in our Nation’s capital should be places where individuals go to learn — not to be subjected to ideological indoctrination or divisive narratives that distort our shared history."
"To advance this policy, we will restore the Smithsonian Institution to its rightful place as a symbol of inspiration and American greatness –- igniting the imagination of young minds, honoring the richness of American history and innovation, and instilling pride in the hearts of all Americans," the document continued.
According to a report from The Washington Post, the Smithsonian, established as a public-private partnership through an act of Congress in 1846, has gradually broadened its scope to present a more diverse perspective on the nation’s history.
The publication described Trump's executive order as "an unprecedented act to edit an institution that has been expanding over many decades to include a wider, richer and more diverse telling of the nation’s history."
To oversee the Smithsonian’s reform efforts, Trump assigned Vice President J.D. Vance, who holds a position on the Smithsonian Board of Regents. Vance's role will involve eliminating "improper ideology" from museum exhibits and advising the president on "any additional actions necessary to fully effectuate such policies," as specified in the order.
Trump also called on Congress to impose funding restrictions to prevent Smithsonian resources from being used for "exhibits or programs that degrade shared American values, divide Americans based on race, or promote programs or ideologies inconsistent with Federal law and policy."
Furthermore, he urged that funds allocated to the Smithsonian require the American Women’s History Museum to "celebrate the achievements of women" and not "recognize men as women in any respect in the Museum."
In addition, Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum was directed to "provide sufficient funding, as available, to improve the infrastructure of Independence National Historical Park, which shall be complete by July 4, 2026, the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence."
However, historians interviewed by The Washington Post criticized the executive order.
Chandra Manning, an American history professor at Georgetown University, argued that "attacking the idea that telling the whole story of the United States is an ideological plot to cast the United States in a negative light testifies to a stunningly brittle insecurity about our nation and its past."
Adam Rothman, another Georgetown history professor, expressed concern over the move, stating, "The president’s proclamation disrespects the thousands of sincere and dedicated researchers, curators, scientists, guides, interpreters, docents and countless other people who work hard every day to preserve and tell the nation’s story truthfully, and in ways that educate and inspire the American public."