Trump issues executive order directing Smithsonian to post warnings on contested exhibits
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President Donald Trump ordered the Interior Department to place signs at the Smithsonian National Museum of American History warning visitors that certain displays are inaccurate, and to direct them to alternative sources for U.S. history.
President Donald Trump signed an executive order directing the Department of the Interior to require the Smithsonian National Museum of American History to post notices cautioning visitors that some exhibits are "inaccurate" and to point them toward other sources for "accurate information regarding America's history." The order, titled "Restoring Trust in the Smithsonian Institution," alleges that museum leadership uses American history as a tool to promote social-justice ideas and "radical transformation" of society. A White House statement accompanying the order claimed the museum is moving toward "extreme political activism, rooted in Marxism, to divide, dispirit, and discourage Americans." The directive does not specify which sources the administration considers reliable for historical information.
Congresswoman Melanie Stansbury, ranking member of the House Administration Committee, criticized the measure on social media, saying it represents a political overreach and that Smithsonian institutions belong to the American people, not the president. The order follows recent congressional hearings in which Smithsonian director Anthea Hartig was questioned about alleged "woke" influences in museum displays and educational materials. It adds to a series of Trump administration actions aimed at curbing diversity, equity and inclusion programs in federal agencies, some of which have faced legal challenges. The Smithsonian, which receives the majority of its funding from the federal government, operates 21 museums and attracts between 15 and 30 million visitors annually.