Trump issues executive order mandating warning signs at Smithsonian's American History museum
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President Donald Trump signed an order directing the Interior Department to place temporary signs outside the National Museum of American History, stating the exhibits need correction based on a White House report.
President Donald Trump signed an executive order on July 24 directing the Interior Department to install temporary signage at the National Museum of American History in Washington, D.C. The signs are to inform visitors that the museum’s displays should be revised in line with findings from a 162-page White House Domestic Policy Council report released on July 4. The order also requires the signs to guide visitors to other locations and resources that provide what the administration calls “accurate information regarding America’s history.”
The White House report criticized the museum’s presentation of historical events, describing it as an effort to reshape the national narrative. The order further notes that the museum has not sufficiently honored the signers of the Declaration of Independence for the United States’ 250th anniversary, and calls for additional temporary exhibits or signage along National Park Service-maintained areas to address perceived inaccuracies.
Republican members of the House Oversight Committee, including Chairman Tim Burchett, have publicly challenged museum director Anthea Hartig, alleging that the museum’s exhibits reflect a partisan agenda. Hartig responded that the museum’s efforts to broaden the narrative aim to include a wider range of evidence and voices, arguing that presenting a fuller story respects the American people and supports the ongoing pursuit of a more perfect union.
As of July 25, it was not confirmed whether the required signs had been installed. Neither the White House nor the Smithsonian Institution responded to requests for comment. The museum remains open daily to the public, except on Christmas Day, and admission is free.