Trump Orders Review of Smithsonian Exhibits, Citing “Anti-American Ideology”
US President Donald Trump has signed an executive order aimed at removing what he terms “corrosive” anti-American ideology from the Smithsonian Institution, Al Jazeera reports.
The order, titled “Restoring Truth and Sanity to American History,” places Vice President JD Vance in charge of overseeing changes to the museum complex, intending to “restore the Smithsonian Institution to its rightful place as a symbol of inspiration and American greatness.”
The executive order asserts that the Smithsonian Institution has been influenced by a “divisive, race-centered ideology” in recent years. It specifically cites exhibits at the American Art Museum and the National Museum of African American History and Culture as promoting “narratives that portray American and Western values as inherently harmful and oppressive.”
“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,” the order read.
The Smithsonian Institution comprises 21 museums and the National Zoo, including popular destinations like the National Museum of Natural History and the National Museum of American History. Vice President Vance currently serves as a member of the Smithsonian Institution’s Board of Regents.
The order states that the administration’s policy is “to restore Federal sites dedicated to history, including parks and museums, to solemn and uplifting public monuments that remind Americans of our extraordinary heritage, consistent progress toward becoming a more perfect Union, and unmatched record of advancing liberty, prosperity, and human flourishing.”
This action follows a similar move by Trump in February to overhaul programming at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, where he appointed himself chairman to oversee changes.
Since taking office, Trump has worked to reverse policies supporting “diversity, equity and inclusion” (DEI) implemented during the previous administration of President Joe Biden.
Trump and other Republicans also advocate for reversing the spread of “critical race theory,” which examines how racism is embedded in US institutions. This theory gained increased prominence in recent years, particularly in academic and museum settings, following the racial justice movement sparked by the 2020 death of George Floyd.
Under the executive order, the Smithsonian will be prohibited from hosting or funding exhibits that “degrade shared American values, divide Americans based on race, or promote programs or ideologies inconsistent with Federal law and policy.”
The order also bans the Women’s History Museum, currently under development, from hosting exhibits celebrating trans women.
Furthermore, the executive order calls for the restoration of “Federal sites dedicated to history, including parks and museums,” suggesting a potential return of Confederate monuments and symbols removed since 2020.
