The White House has ordered an extensive review of the Smithsonian museums and exhibitions in advance of next year’s 250th anniversary of the United States. The goal of the review is to align the institution’s content with President Donald Trump’s interpretation of US history.
In a letter sent to Smithsonian Institution Secretary Lonnie Bunch III, the White House laid out in detail the steps it expects the organisation to take so that museum content can be reviewed for a focus on “Americanism”. The federal government will review public-facing museum content, such as social media, exhibition text, and educational materials, to “assess tone, historical framing, and alignment with American ideals”.
The White House said that the review is in line with the Restoring Truth and Sanity to American History Executive Order, which Trump signed in March. “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 added.
The Smithsonian Institution has responded to the letter, saying it remains committed to “scholarly excellence, rigorous research, and the accurate, factual presentation of history”. “We are reviewing the letter with this commitment in mind and will continue to collaborate constructively with the White House, Congress, and our governing Board of Regents,” it said.
The Congressional Black Caucus has previously criticized the Trump administration’s efforts to restrict the Smithsonian Institution, describing it as “whitewashing our nation’s history”. “Donald Trump’s idea that the National Museum of African American History and Culture is guilty of distorting our nation’s history or painting our ‘founding principles’ in a ‘negative light’ is patently ridiculous,” the caucus said in a statement.
“Let’s be clear, Black history is American history. Any rhetoric that opposes this notion is not only factually incorrect but blatantly racist,” the caucus added. “It is the Trump Administration that bans books, words, and phrases that do not fit their narrative. It is the Trump Administration that wants to erase and retell our history.”
The review will initially focus on several Smithsonian museums, including the National Museum of American History, the National Museum of Natural History, the National Museum of African American History and Culture, and others. These museums are all located in Washington, DC, where the president has ordered the deployment of the US National Guard to tackle a purported crime wave that city officials have refuted.
The Smithsonian Institution has repeatedly denied allegations that it has changed or removed exhibit details in response to pressure from the Trump administration. Recently, the institution removed references to Trump’s two impeachments from an exhibit on the US presidency, citing reasons related to consistency and visibility.