Donald Trump’s March executive order is now moving forward
Donald Trump has directed the Smithsonian Institution to go through all of its exhibits and operations, making sure they line up with his personal vision of American history.
According to a report from The Wall Street Journal on August 12, the White House has allegedly pushed the institution to carry out this review. A formal letter was reportedly sent from White House officials to Smithsonian Secretary Lonnie Bunch.
This letter is said to be a follow-up to Trump’s March 27 executive order titled Restoring Truth and Sanity to American History, which set out his administration’s expectations for how history should be presented.
"Once widely respected as a symbol of American excellence and a global icon of cultural achievement, the Smithsonian Institution has, in recent years, come under the influence of a divisive, race-centered ideology. This shift has promoted narratives that portray American and Western values as inherently harmful and oppressive." the order stated.
The most recent letter allegedly included detailed guidance on how to achieve this, including removing “divisive or ideologically driven” material and replacing it with “unifying, historically accurate” language. It also asked for a final report to be submitted within 30 days before making any changes.
Explaining the push for revisions, White House senior associate Lindsay Halligan, who signed the letter, said: "This is about preserving trust in one of our most cherished institutions."
It went on to add: "The Smithsonian museums and exhibits should be accurate, patriotic, and enlightening — ensuring they remain places of learning, wonder, and national pride for generations to come."
The Smithsonian responded by reaffirming that its work is built on “scholarly excellence, rigorous research, and the accurate, factual presentation of history.”
The institution also noted that it is “reviewing the letter with this commitment in mind” and will keep working with the White House, Congress, and its Board of Regents in a constructive way.
Since the directive, Trump’s White House has been accused of trying to rewrite history at the Smithsonian. On July 31, The Washington Post reported changes had been made to an exhibit at the National Museum of American History titled The American Presidency: A Glorious Burden.
That exhibit had, since 2021, featured a label mentioning Trump’s two impeachments, along with a note for visitors that read: “Case under redesign (history happens).”
But in July, the Post reported that this label was removed. According to the outlet, this was “part of a content review that the Smithsonian agreed to undertake following pressure from the White House to remove an art museum director.”
A Smithsonian spokesperson told the outlet at the time that the label had always been intended as “a short-term addition to address current events.”
"In reviewing our legacy content recently, it became clear that the 'Limits of Presidential Power' section in 'The American Presidency: A Glorious Burden' exhibition needed to be addressed." the spokesperson said.
Following these changes, CNN political commentator Jilian Michaels defended Trump’s review, prompting criticism from Congressman Ritchie Torres, who accused her of engaging in “historical revisionism.”
"He's not whitewashing slavery, and you cannot tie Imperialism and racism and slavery to just one race, which is pretty much what every single exhibit does." Michaels told CNN host Abby Phillip during their conversation on Wednesday (August 13).
When Michaels argued that slavery is “thousands of years old,” Torres responded by saying: "This is extraordinary historical revisionism."
The exchange has fueled a heated public debate, with opinions sharply divided on the issue.