US President Donald Trump has signed an executive order that targets the Smithsonian Institution, which encompasses more than 20 museums and research centers that are visited by millions of people each year in Washington DC and New York City. The order instructs the vice-president to eliminate any improper, divisive, or anti-American ideology from the institution’s museums, centers, and the National Zoo in Washington.
Additionally, the order directs the interior secretary to restore federal properties such as parks, memorials, and statues that have been improperly removed or changed in the last five years to perpetuate a false revision of history. This move is part of Trump’s efforts to influence American culture, in addition to politics.
The order is titled “Restoring Truth and Sanity to American History” and states that Vice-President JD Vance, who became a member of the Smithsonian Board of Regents due to his position in government, will lead the purge. The order also suggests that Congress should not fund Smithsonian exhibits and programs that divide Americans by race. It claims that the American Women’s History Museum, which is currently being developed, intends to recognize men as women. Furthermore, the National Museum of African American History and Culture is criticized for declaring that hard work, individualism, and the nuclear family are aspects of White culture.
The Smithsonian museums offer free admission to between 15 to 30 million visitors each year and operate a total of 21 museums in Washington, Virginia, and New York. These museums include the National Museum of American History, the National Portrait Gallery, the American Art Museum, and the National Zoo, among others.
The order also instructs Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum to complete restorations and improvements to Independence Hall in Philadelphia ahead of the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, which took place within the building.
Trump has been actively seeking to fundamentally reshape American culture, which he believes has been tainted by “woke” left-wing ideology. He has signed several orders aimed at eliminating diversity, equity, and inclusion programs from the federal government, some of which have led to legal challenges.
Shortly after taking office, Trump dismissed the board of the John F Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington DC and appointed himself as chairman. This decision sparked widespread criticism from actors and directors, leading to several cancellations of upcoming performances.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cdjy1jmvvwzo
