WASHINGTON, July 26: US President Donald Trump has directed his administration to install warning signs outside the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of American History, claiming that certain exhibits present an inaccurate account of the nation’s past. The move marks another step in Trump’s broader effort to reshape how American history is presented in public institutions.
The executive order instructs the National Park Service, which maintains the sidewalks surrounding the museum, to place signs informing visitors that some displays inside the museum allegedly contain misleading or incomplete historical interpretations. The notices will also guide visitors to a White House report and additional resources that the administration says provide a more accurate account of American history.
The directive follows the release of a report by the White House Domestic Policy Council on July 4. The report criticized the Smithsonian Institution and the National Museum of American History, arguing that several exhibits fail to present the nation’s history in a manner that promotes unity, patriotism and pride in the United States.
Because the Smithsonian Institution operates independently of the executive branch, the president cannot directly order changes to museum exhibits or dismiss its leadership. Instead, the administration has focused on actions that fall within federal authority, including installing informational signs on government-maintained public property surrounding the museum.
In addition to the warning signs, the executive order proposes the creation of a temporary exhibition designed to present what the administration considers corrections to historical information that it believes has been inaccurately portrayed in existing displays.
The Smithsonian Institution did not immediately issue an official response following the announcement of the executive order.
Earlier this week, National Museum of American History Director Anthea M. Hartig defended the museum’s work while testifying before Congress. She rejected the White House’s assessment, stating that the report did not fairly represent the museum’s collections, exhibitions or educational programs.
Hartig acknowledged that museums should continually strive for improvement but emphasized that the institution remains committed to historical accuracy, rigorous scholarship and presenting diverse perspectives through its exhibitions and research.
The Smithsonian Institution functions independently under the leadership of Secretary Lonnie G. Bunch III and is overseen by its Board of Regents, rather than the executive branch. This governance structure limits direct presidential authority over the institution’s operations and curatorial decisions.
Trump’s latest order reflects a wider campaign by his administration to influence cultural and educational institutions that he argues have increasingly adopted ideological viewpoints inconsistent with traditional American values. Throughout his presidency, he has frequently criticized universities, museums and arts organizations for what he describes as politically biased interpretations of history and culture.
One of the most notable examples was his intervention at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, where he assumed the role of chairman with the stated objective of reshaping its artistic direction. Although the center’s board later approved adding Trump’s name to the building, a federal judge subsequently ordered the removal of those signs.
The administration has also pursued changes at other historic sites across the country. In Philadelphia, federal officials recently secured a court ruling allowing revised interpretive panels to be reinstalled at the site of President George Washington’s former residence.
Those updated displays have generated significant debate among historians, educators and civil rights advocates. Critics argue that the revised interpretation minimizes the realities of slavery and presents a more celebratory version of early American history, while supporters contend that it offers a more balanced portrayal of the nation’s founding.
The latest executive order is expected to intensify the ongoing national debate over how American history should be presented in museums and public institutions. Supporters view the initiative as an effort to restore patriotic storytelling, while opponents argue that historical interpretation should remain independent of political influence and grounded in academic research.
As discussions continue over the role of museums in shaping public understanding of history, the Smithsonian’s response and any potential legal challenges could determine how far the administration’s directive is ultimately implemented.