In brief
President Trump issued an executive order on Friday directing the Department of the Interior to place warning signage outside the Smithsonian National Museum of American History, labeling exhibits that his administration calls "inaccurate." The order, part of a broader effort to redraw American cultural narratives, also guides visitors toward so‑called accurate accounts of U.S. history. The directive follows congressional hearings and a March report in which the White House described the museum as harboring a "woke" ideology that divides and discourages citizens. The Smithsonian, a federally funded institution that attracts millions of visitors each year, has not yet publicly responded to the ruling.
President Donald Trump issued an executive order on Friday directing the Department of the Interior to place warning signage outside the Smithsonian National Museum of American History, flagging exhibits that his administration calls “inaccurate.”
The order, titled “Restoring Trust in the Smithsonian Institution,” also tells visitors where they can find “accurate information regarding America’s history.” Trump’s statement criticizes the museum for focusing on social‑justice themes he alleges deepen Marxist “woke” ideology.
This directive follows congressional hearings where Smithsonian Director Anthea Hartig was grilled by Republicans over perceived “wokeness” in exhibits, and after the White House released a scathing report in March that said the museum “erases our heritage.”
The Smithsonian, a federally funded system that runs 21 museums across Washington, Virginia and New York and draws 15–30 million visitors each year, has so far not publicly responded to the order.
Trump’s move is part of a broader effort to reshape U.S. culture, with several executive orders aimed at eliminating diversity, equity and inclusion programs from federal agencies.
The Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History is among the most visited institutions on the National Mall, and the new signage will appear immediately, according to the order.
