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Trump Executive Order Targets Smithsonian Institution Over “Divisive Narratives”
WASHINGTON — Former President Donald Trump unveiled plans on Thursday to instigate alterations at the Smithsonian Institution through an executive order. This order seeks to redirect funding away from initiatives deemed to promote “divisive narratives” and “improper ideology.” The move represents the most recent action in his ongoing campaign against cultural entities he perceives as overly liberal. This executive action signals a significant escalation in the ongoing debate over historical narratives and cultural institutions in the United States.
Accusations of Distorted History
Trump asserted a “concerted and widespread” endeavor over the past decade to revise American history, substituting “objective facts” with a “distorted narrative driven by ideology rather than truth.” He further contended this revised history portrays the “founding principles” of the United States in a “negative light.”
Vance to Oversee “Ideology Removal”
The executive order, signed privately, designates Vice President JD Vance, a member of the Smithsonian Institution’s Board of Regents, to supervise the initiative to “remove improper ideology” from all facets of the institution. This includes its museums, educational and research facilities, and the National Zoo. Vance’s appointment underscores the administration’s commitment to reshaping the Smithsonian Institution and its approach to historical representation.
Broadening Cultural Scrutiny
This executive action signifies the former Republican president’s most recent challenge to cultural cornerstones of society, including universities and the arts, which he views as incompatible with conservative values. Trump recently assumed the chairmanship of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, aiming to revamp its programming, notably the annual Kennedy Center Honors. Previously, his administration compelled Columbia University to enact policy revisions by threatening to withdraw substantial federal funding, indicating a pattern of intervention in cultural organizations.
Confederate Monuments and Historical Revisionism
The executive order also suggests a potential reinstatement of statues and monuments honoring Confederate figures. Many of these monuments were removed or relocated nationally following the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis in 2020 and the subsequent rise of the Black Lives Matter movement, which is opposed by Trump and other conservatives. This element of the order highlights the ongoing tensions surrounding Confederate monuments and their place in the American landscape.
Independence Hall Enhancements
Furthermore, the order mandates enhancements to Independence Hall in Philadelphia by July 4, 2026, coinciding with the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence.
Museums Targeted for Critique
Trump specifically cited the National Museum of African American History and Culture, established in 2016 near the White House, the Women’s History Museum, currently under development, and the American Art Museum for critique. He stated, “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.” These remarks signal a direct challenge to the curatorial direction of prominent Smithsonian museums.
Smithsonian Response
Linda St. Thomas, chief spokesperson for the Smithsonian Institution, stated via email late Thursday, “We have no comment for now.”
Funding and Programmatic Changes
According to Trump’s directive, Vance will collaborate with the White House budget office to ensure future Smithsonian Institution funding is not allocated to programs that “degrade shared American values, divide Americans based on race, or promote programs or ideologies inconsistent with federal law and policy.” Trump also aimed to guarantee that the forthcoming Women’s History Museum celebrates women and does not “recognize men as women in any respect.” These stipulations suggest a focused effort to control the content and messaging emanating from the Smithsonian through funding restrictions.
Restoration of Removed Monuments
The order further mandates the interior secretary to restore monuments, memorials, statues, and related properties altered or removed since January 1, 2020. This restoration aims to prevent the perpetuation of “a false reconstruction of American history, inappropriately minimize the value of certain historical events or figures, or include any other improper partisan ideology.”
About the Smithsonian Institution
The Smithsonian Institution stands as the world’s largest museum, education, and research complex, comprising 21 museums and the National Zoo. Eleven of these museums are situated along the National Mall in Washington. Congress established the institution using funds from James Smithson, a British scientist who bequeathed his estate to the United States to create “at Washington, under the name of the Smithsonian Institution, an establishment for the increase and diffusion of knowledge.”