The White House has initiated an extensive review of Smithsonian museums and exhibitions in preparation for the 250th U.S. anniversary, aiming to align the museum content with President Donald Trump’s interpretation of American history. In a letter to Smithsonian Institution Secretary Lonnie Bunch III, the White House detailed expected steps for reviewing museum content to ensure it emphasizes “Americanism.” This includes examining public content such as social media, exhibition text, and educational materials to evaluate tone, historical framing, and adherence to American ideals, with the goal of highlighting American exceptionalism, removing divisive or partisan narratives, and bolstering confidence in shared cultural institutions.
A statement from the Smithsonian affirmed its commitment to scholarly excellence, rigorous research, and the accurate portrayal of history. The institution plans to work collaboratively with the White House and Congress on the review, noting the importance of this commitment.
The White House clarified that the review aligns with President Trump’s March 2025 executive order to restore truth and sanity to American history. Critics, including the Congressional Black Caucus, have accused the move of whitewashing the nation’s history and called it “patently ridiculous.”
The review will initially focus on several museums located in Washington, D.C., including the National Museum of American History and the National Museum of African American History and Culture, among others. These museums are all free to the public and attract millions of visitors yearly.
The Smithsonian has denied allegations that it changes exhibit details due to political pressure, including the removal of references to Trump’s impeachments from an exhibit. The institution argued the decision was based on consistency and visual access to objects within the exhibit case.
This review is part of a broader effort by the Trump administration to influence the presentation of U.S. history, with critics arguing it undermines the integrity of historical narratives for political reasons.
Source: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/8/13/trump-admin-orders-smithsonian-museums-to-be-reviewed-for-americanism?traffic_source=rss
