NEW YORK — President Donald Trump has signed an executive order titled “Restoring Truth and Sanity to American History,” which targets the Smithsonian Institution, claiming it has fallen under a divisive, race-centered ideology. Many critics argue that this move seeks to rewrite and sanitize American history. The executive order is just one of several recent actions against cultural organizations that Trump accuses of being heavily influenced by what he sees as a “woke” agenda, including entities like the Kennedy Center and the Institute of Museum and Library Services. Both Voice of America and PBS have also been mentioned in this regard.
Vice President JD Vance has been tasked by Trump to lead the initiative to implement the policies of the executive order. This includes ensuring no federal funding is allocated to exhibits or programs that, according to the order, undermine shared American values, create racial divides, or promote ideologies that conflict with federal laws and policies.
The Smithsonian Institution, often referred to as the world’s largest museum, education, and research complex, holds an annual budget over $1 billion. Originally founded in the 19th century by British scientist James Smithson, whose estate established the foundation for spreading knowledge, the Smithsonian was officially formed in 1846 upon the signing of legislation by President James K. Polk. This Institution operates numerous cultural centers, notably in Washington, D.C., including prestigious venues like the Air and Space Museum, the Portrait Gallery, the National Zoo, and the Smithsonian Gardens.
Trump’s executive order specifically criticizes the National Museum of African American History and Culture for allegedly asserting that “hard work,” “individualism,” and “the nuclear family” are part of “White culture.” He also criticized a forthcoming exhibit at the American Women’s History Museum for highlighting trans athletes’ successes, and an exhibit at the American Art Museum for suggesting race is more of a social construct than a biological reality.
In 2017, Trump visited the National Museum of African American History and Culture accompanied by then-Housing and Urban Development Secretary Ben Carson, Republican Senator Tim Scott, and Alveda King, niece of Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. During his visit, Trump expressed pride in the museum, which includes an exhibit honoring Carson’s career as a prominent pediatric neurosurgeon and his role as a model for aspiring Black doctors. Trump acknowledged the museum as a tribute to African American men’s and women’s contributions to American heritage, touching on aspects like faith and culture.
The response to Trump’s executive order has been predominantly critical. Individuals like Dorothy Wilson, who visited the National Museum of African American History and Culture with her grandchildren, expressed concerns about the potential consequences of obscuring historical truths. Elizabeth Pagano, a visitor from New York’s Hudson Valley, highlighted the inclusive nature of U.S. history, emphasizing that history cannot be selectively presented.
Holly Brewer, a historian at the University of Maryland, raised concerns over the order’s implications for discussing the role of race in shaping power structures. She questioned how one could study history without examining race’s historical involvement in creating and sustaining systemic inequities. Similarly, Bryan Stevenson, founder of the Equal Justice Initiative, underscored the importance of acknowledging mistakes throughout American history to truly understand and appreciate the nation’s greatness.
In a statement, Margaret Huang, President and CEO of the Southern Poverty Law Center, asserted that Black history and women’s history are integral to U.S. history, highlighting the nation’s complex tapestry of beauty and ugliness. She emphasized that the enduring fight for civil rights has been essential in moving the country toward an inclusive, multiracial democracy.