White House accused of trying to rewrite history as it orders Smithsonian to change its exhibits

The Trump administration has sent a letter to the Smithsonian, the world’s largest museum and research complex, declaring it will carry out a “comprehensive internal review” of its exhibitions and materials ahead of the United States 250th anniversary celebrations in 2026.

In a letter addressed to Lonnie Bunch, the secretary of the Smithsonian Institution, White House officials – signed as Lindsey Halligan, Vince Haley and Russell Vought – said the Trump administration wants the museum to represent Trump’s view of history in keeping with an executive order he signed which demanded the removal of “improper, divisive or anti-American ideology” from historic institutions.

“As we prepare to celebrate the 250th anniversary of our Nation’s founding, it is more important than ever that our national museums reflect the unity, progress, and enduring values that define the American story. In this spirit, and in accordance with Executive Order 14253, Restoring Truth and Sanity to American History, we will be leading a comprehensive internal review of selected Smithsonian museums and exhibitions,” the letter reads.

“This initiative aims to ensure alignment with the President’s confidence directive to celebrate American exceptionalism, remove divisive or partisan narratives, and restore in our shared cultural institutions.”

Executive order 14253 was signed by Trump in March and claimed in recent years Americans have “witnessed a concerted and widespread effort to rewrite our Nation’s history, replacing objective facts with a distorted narrative driven by ideology rather than truth”.

The order claimed the United States’ “founding principles and historical milestones” were being cast in a “negative light” and “reconstructed as inherently racist, sexist, oppressive, or otherwise irredeemably flawed”.

It outlined it would henceforth be the policy of the Trump administration to return federal museums to “solemn and uplifting public monuments” where people go to learn and not be “subjected to ideological indoctrination or divisive narratives that distort our shared history”, with the Smithsonian named as one insitution which will be targeted to be restored to its “rightful place as a symbol of inspiration and American greatness”.

The letter addressed to the Smithsonian goes on to state the review is “constructive and collaborative effort – one rooted in respect for the Smithsonian’s vital mission and its extraordinary contributions”.

“Our goal is not to interfere with the day-to-day operations of curators or staff, but rather to support a broader vision of excellence that highlights historically accurate, uplifting, and inclusive portrayals of America’s heritage,” it claims.

One of many who reacted with outrage to the news was US journalist Jonathan Lemire, who called the move “really dangerous” in an interview with MSNBC, warning that rewriting history to fit one president’s vision is “not what a healthy democracy does.”

@msnbc The White House has ordered a sweeping review of Smithsonian museum exhibits ahead of America’s 250th anniversary, directing curators to replace “divisive” language with content that aligns with President Trump’s view of history. On #MorningJoe, Jonathan Lemire called the move “really dangerous,” warning that rewriting history to fit one president’s vision is “not what a healthy democracy does.” #MSNBC #news #politics #Trump ♬ original sound – MSNBC

The internal review will focus on a number of areas, including public-facing content that will see a “review of exhibition text, wall didactics, websites, educational materials, and digital and social media content to assess tone, historical framing, and alignment with American ideals”.

The eight museums named as being up for review in the first phase are the National Museum of American History, the National Museum of Natural History, the National Museum of African American History and Culture, the National Museum of the American Indian, the National Air and Space Museum, the Smithsonian American Art Museum, the National Portrait Gallery and the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden.

Alongside the details of which exhibitions and materials are to be reviewed, the letter sets out a timeline with 30, 75 and 120 day targets.

Within 120 days it states museums should “begin implementing content corrections where necessary, replacing divisive or ideologically driven language with unifying, historically accurate, and constructive descriptions across placards, wall didactics, digital displays, and other public-facing materials”.

“We view this process as a collaborative and forward-looking opportunity-one that empowers museum staff to embrace a revitalized curatorial vision rooted in the strength, breadth, and achievements of the American story,” the letter concludes.

“By focusing on Americanism – the people, principles, and progress that define our nation – we can work together to renew the Smithsonian’s role as the world’s leading museum institution.”

Earlier this month the museum removed and then later amended an exhibition on US presidential impeachments which mentioned Trump’s two impeachments during his first term.

A statement published on the Smithsonian website on 2 August stated in regards to the topic: “As the keeper of memory for the nation, it is our privilege and responsibility to tell accurate and complete histories. As has been recently reported, in July, a placard was removed from the National Museum of American History’s exhibit “The American Presidency: A Glorious Burden.” The intent of the Impeachment section of the exhibit is to reflect all impeachment proceedings in our nation’s history.  

“The placard, which was meant to be a temporary addition to a twenty-five year-old exhibition, did not meet the museum’s standards in appearance, location, timeline and overall presentation. It was not consistent with other sections in the exhibit and moreover blocked the view of the objects inside its case. For these reasons, we removed the placard. We were not asked by any Administration or other government official to remove content from the exhibit. 

“The section in question, Impeachment, will be updated in the coming weeks to reflect all impeachment proceedings in our nation’s history.”