Importance Score: 75 / 100 🔴
Trump Targets Smithsonian Museums with “Anti-American Ideology” Executive Order
Former US President Donald Trump has issued an executive order aimed at the Smithsonian Institution, a renowned network of over 20 museums and research centers that attract millions of visitors annually in Washington DC and New York City. This directive signals a renewed focus on shaping cultural institutions and national narratives. The order mandates a review and potential overhaul of content within these institutions.
Vice President Tasked with Eliminating “Divisive” Content
The executive order specifically instructs the Vice President to take action to “eliminate improper, divisive, or anti-American ideology” from all Smithsonian facilities. This includes museums, research centers, and the National Zoological Park, all located in Washington, D.C.
Restoring Federal Properties and Historical Narratives
Furthermore, the order broadens its scope to federal properties, directing the Secretary of the Interior to restore parks, memorials, and statues. This action targets sites “improperly removed or altered” in the past five years. The justification is to correct what the order describes as “a false revision of history,” reflecting a desire to reinforce a specific interpretation of American heritage.
“Restoring Truth and Sanity to American History”
Formally titled “Restoring Truth and Sanity to American History,” the executive order designates Vice President JD Vance to spearhead this initiative. Vance, by virtue of his governmental position, serves on the Smithsonian Board of Regents and is now positioned to lead this content review and revision process.
Concerns Over Funding and Museum Content
Trump’s directive suggests a potential shift in Congressional funding for the Smithsonian. It stipulates that Congress should withhold funding from Smithsonian exhibits and programs perceived to “divide Americans by race.” The order raises concerns about specific projects, including the forthcoming American Women’s History Museum, alleging it intends to “recognize men as women.”
National Museum of African American History and Culture Under Scrutiny
The National Museum of African American History and Culture is explicitly mentioned in the order. The document criticizes the museum for allegedly asserting that values such as “hard work,” “individualism,” and “the nuclear family” are elements of “White culture.” This museum, inaugurated in 2016 during the final term of President Barack Obama, America’s first Black president, has become a focal point of this ideological debate.
Smithsonian Institution: A Major Cultural Attraction
The Smithsonian Institution’s museums, offering free admission, collectively draw between 15 and 30 million visitors each year. Its extensive network comprises 21 museums located across Washington D.C., Virginia, and New York, representing a significant portion of the nation’s cultural landscape.
Key Smithsonian Museums
The Smithsonian’s diverse holdings include some of the nation’s most prominent museums:
- National Museum of American History
- National Portrait Gallery
- American Art Museum
- National Zoological Park
- And numerous other institutions
Independence Hall Restoration Ahead of Anniversary
The order also mandates that Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum oversee “restorations and improvements” at Independence Hall in Philadelphia. This directive comes in advance of the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence’s signing, an event that took place at this historic site.
Broader Effort to Reshape American Culture
Trump’s actions reflect a broader campaign to significantly reshape American culture, which he contends has been negatively influenced by “woke” left-wing ideology. He has enacted multiple executive orders aimed at eliminating diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives within the federal government, some of which have faced legal challenges.
Past Actions: Kennedy Center Board
Early in his presidential term, Trump dismissed the board of directors of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington DC, appointing himself as chairman. This earlier intervention signaled a pattern of direct presidential involvement in cultural institutions.
Criticism and Performance Cancellations
Trump’s move concerning the Kennedy Center triggered widespread condemnation from actors and directors in the performing arts community. The controversy resulted in several artists cancelling scheduled performances in protest, highlighting the deep divisions surrounding these cultural interventions.