The White House is reviewing exhibits, materials, and operations at the Smithsonian Institution to make sure they align with U.S. President Donald Trump’s view of American history.
The review comes before the country’s 250th anniversary in 2026.
The plan follows a March executive order from Trump called ‘Restoring Truth and Sanity to American History,’ which calls for removing “improper ideology” from the Smithsonian’s museums and the National Zoo.
Highlights
- The White House is reviewing Smithsonian exhibits to align with President Trump's vision ahead of the U.S.' 250th anniversary in 2026.
- Trump’s executive order targets removing “improper ideology” and divisive narratives from Smithsonian museums and the National Zoo.
- The Smithsonian recently removed references to Trump’s impeachments and rotated out key African American history artifacts like Harriet Tubman's hymns.
The White House is reviewing the Smithsonian Institution’s materials ahead of the U.S.’ 250th anniversary next year
Image credits: Win McNamee/Getty Images
The assessment will include exhibition planning, reviews of online content and public-facing content, internal curatorial processes, the use of collections and artist grants, and their narrative standards.
The Smithsonian Institution includes 21 museums, 14 education and research centers, and the National Zoo.
Eight museums will be reviewed first, including the National Museum of American History, the National Museum of African American History and Culture, the National Museum of Natural History, and the National Museum of the American Indian.
The White House confirmed the review in a letter sent Tuesday to Smithsonian Secretary Lonnie Bunch.
It was signed by Lindsey Halligan, a senior associate at the White House, Vince Haley, director of the Domestic Policy Council, and Russ Vought, director of the Office of Management and Budget.
“This initiative aims to ensure alignment with the president’s directive to celebrate American exceptionalism, remove divisive or partisan narratives, and restore confidence in our shared cultural institutions,” the letter says.
The letter ordered the museums to turn over information about their current exhibits and plans to commemorate the country’s 250th anniversary in the next 30 days.
Image credits: Kevin Carter/Getty Images
The letter further states that within 120 days, museums “should begin implementing content corrections where necessary, replacing divisive or ideologically driven language with unifying, historically accurate, and constructive descriptions across placards, wall didactics, digital displays, and other public-facing materials.”
Halligan said in a statement: “This is about preserving trust in one of our most cherished institutions. 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, saying its work is based on scholarly excellence, rigorous research, and accurate representation of history.
It said it is reviewing the letter and will work with the White House, Congress, and its Board of Regents.
At the National Museum of American History, a display about presidential impeachment recently changed.
A display about Donald Trump’s impeachments was removed in late July
Image credits: Win McNamee/Getty Images
In late July, a placard mentioning Trump’s two impeachments in 2019 and 2021 was removed. The Smithsonian claimed the removal was for design and display reasons, not because of political pressure.
Important text was also changed. The word “alleged” was added to the 2020 impeachment trial. Phrases about Trump’s 2021 incitement charges because of his repeated “false statements” and giving a speech that “encouraged ‒ and foreseeably resulted in ‒ imminent lawless action at the Capitol” were removed.
In May, many exhibits in the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture were rotated out.
NBC News outlined 32 such artifacts, including a book of hymns by Harriet Tubman, a social activist who rescued 70 enslaved people.
The book contains gospel songs she sang as she led enslaved people to freedom through the Underground Railroad.
Image credits: Andrew Lichtenstein/Getty Images
Another book rotated out is a memoir: Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass. Douglass was another important figure of the abolition movement.
Trump’s executive order says the Smithsonian has promoted a “divisive, race-centered ideology” and that “[The Trump administration] will restore the Smithsonian Institution to its rightful place as a symbol of inspiration and American greatness.”
Trump has also taken steps at the Kennedy Center, another federally funded cultural site.
Earlier this year, he named himself chairman and dismissed the bipartisan board, vowing there would be no “anti-American propaganda” there.
“We don’t need woke at the Kennedy Center,” he said in February.
Last month, Republicans advanced a proposal to rename the Kennedy Center in honor of the first lady and call it the Melania Trump Opera House.