Trump Attempts to Rewrite History with Order Targeting Smithsonian Museum
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President Trump signed an executive order forcing the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History to display signs discrediting its own exhibits, in a move widely seen as an attack on historical truth and academic independence.
President Donald Trump has escalated his campaign against historical accuracy by signing an executive order on Friday that compels the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of American History (NMAH) to post temporary signs outside its building. These signs will warn visitors that the museum’s exhibits are supposedly 'inaccurate,' and will direct them to alternative resources handpicked by the administration for so-called 'accurate information regarding America’s history.' This blatant attempt to undermine the museum’s credibility follows the release of a 162-page White House report on July 4, which baselessly claims that the Smithsonian, and especially the NMAH, cannot be trusted to present American history honestly. The report’s criticisms focus on the museum’s willingness to address issues like political activism, immigration, and gender—topics the administration would rather erase or distort. This is not the first time the Trump administration has targeted the Smithsonian. In March 2025, it issued an order ominously titled 'Restoring Truth and Sanity to American History,' and threatened to withhold federal funding unless the museum conformed to its ideological demands. Congressional oversight has increased, with NMAH director Anthea Hartig forced to defend the museum’s mission before a House subcommittee. Hartig rightly stated, 'Examining the harder chapters of our history is not the same as hostility toward America. Telling our history fully is not anti-American.' Meanwhile, investigations have revealed the outsized influence of David and Tim Barton, founders of the Christian-nationalist group WallBuilders, who have long sought to impose a whitewashed, Christian-centric narrative on U.S. history. The White House’s report echoes the Bartons’ revisionist themes, such as exaggerating Christian influence in the Declaration of Independence and glorifying controversial figures like Christopher Columbus. The Bartons themselves have openly discussed their collaboration with White House officials on multiple podcasts, boasting about their input on what the administration deems 'misleading' content. The administration’s next move may be to stack the Smithsonian’s Board of Regents with loyalists. With three seats currently vacant and three more expected to open in October, Vice President J.D. Vance—a board member—has reportedly delayed nominations, waiting for candidates who will rubber-stamp the administration’s agenda. This coordinated assault on historical truth threatens the very foundation of public education and democratic discourse.