Headline: Trump Administration Challenges Smithsonian’s Historical Narratives
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Headline: Trump Administration Challenges Smithsonian's Historical Narratives
- The Trump administration has initiated a review of the Smithsonian Institution's museums, aiming to shift their focus from what it perceives as an overemphasis on negative aspects of American history, such as slavery, towards themes of "American greatness."
- In August 2025, former President Donald Trump criticized the Smithsonian on Truth Social, stating it was "OUT OF CONTROL" for its focus on "how bad Slavery was."
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The Trump administration has launched a broad initiative to influence the historical narratives presented by federal cultural institutions, particularly the Smithsonian. In August 2025, former President Donald Trump publicly criticized the Smithsonian Institution, stating on Truth Social that it was “OUT OF CONTROL” and focused too much on “how bad Slavery was” rather than “Success, brightness, [or] the Future.” This criticism is part of a larger effort to promote a view of “American greatness” and “American exceptionalism” within museums.
An executive order signed by Trump in March 2025 aimed to “restore the Smithsonian Institution to its rightful place as a symbol of inspiration and American greatness.” The White House subsequently announced an internal review of several Smithsonian museums, including the National Museum of African American History and Culture, the National Museum of American History, and the National Portrait Gallery. This review, overseen by Vice President JD Vance, seeks to “remove improper ideology” and “divisive, race-centered ideology” from exhibitions and programs. It also intends to evaluate how existing materials could better highlight “American achievement and progress.”
The administration’s directives extend beyond the Smithsonian, with concerns raised by museum sector bodies like the American Alliance of Museums about a “growing threat” of censorship and political interference. In July 2026, President Trump ordered signs to be installed outside the National Museum of American History, informing visitors that some exhibits contain “inaccurate information” and directing them to alternative resources for what he considers “accurate information.” Critics, including historians and museum professionals, have expressed alarm, viewing these actions as attempts to “repurpose public institutions as tools of ideological enforcement” and to “rewrite history.”