President Donald Trump has signed an executive order restricting funding for Smithsonian Institution programs that he claims promote “divisive, race-centered ideology.” This directive follows a pattern of efforts by his administration to reshape historical narratives in line with his political views, often targeting institutions that challenge his perspective on American history, including the arm of the Smithsonian Museum dealing with African American Culture.
Trump’s order alleges that over the past decade, there has been a “deliberate and widespread” attempt to rewrite American history by replacing “objective facts” with a narrative driven by ideology rather than truth. He argues that this effort unfairly casts America’s founding principles in a negative light, a claim widely disputed by historians and cultural experts.
“The Smithsonian Institution has, in recent years, come under the influence of a divisive, race-centered ideology,” the order states. “This shift has encouraged narratives that frame American and Western values as fundamentally harmful and oppressive.” Trump specifically pointed to an exhibit at the Smithsonian American Art Museum that he claims portrays racial history in a way that reinforces a negative perspective of the country’s past.
As part of the directive, Vice President JD Vance—who serves on the Smithsonian Institution’s Board of Regents—will be responsible for leading efforts to eliminate what the administration deems “improper ideology” from Smithsonian museums, research centers, educational programs, and even the National Zoo.
This executive order is the latest move in Trump’s broader campaign against cultural and academic institutions that he believes do not align with his worldview. Earlier this year, his administration pressured Columbia University into making significant policy changes by threatening to withdraw federal funding. Additionally, Trump appointed himself chairman of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, signaling his intent to interfere with its programming, including the prestigious Kennedy Center Honors awards.
Trump’s executive order also suggests a potential push to restore statues and monuments dedicated to controversial historical figures, many of which were removed or replaced following the 2020 police killing of George Floyd and the rise of the Black Lives Matter movement. The order directs the Secretary of the Interior to review whether public monuments or memorials under the department’s jurisdiction have been removed or altered in a way that “perpetuates a false reconstruction of American history or minimizes the value of certain historical events or figures.”
Smithsonian Museums Under Fire
Among the institutions Trump has attacked in the order are the National Museum of African American History and Culture, which opened in 2016, the upcoming Women’s History Museum, and the American Art Museum. He claims that museums in Washington, D.C., should be places of learning rather than platforms for ideological influence—though critics argue that his definition of “learning” merely aligns with his political agenda.
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“Museums in our Nation’s capital should be places where individuals go to learn—not to be subjected to ideological indoctrination or divisive narratives that distort our shared history,” the order states.
In response, the Smithsonian Institution’s chief spokesperson, Linda St. Thomas, declined to comment on the directive.
Under the new order, Vice President Vance is tasked with collaborating with the White House budget office to ensure that future funding does not support programs that “degrade shared American values, divide Americans based on race, or promote programs or ideologies inconsistent with federal law and policy.” Additionally, Trump has made it clear that the Women’s History Museum must strictly focus on celebrating women and cannot include any exhibits recognizing transgender women as part of its historical narrative.
The Future of the Smithsonian Institution
The Smithsonian, the world’s largest museum and research complex, operates 21 museums and the National Zoo, with 11 of its museums located along the National Mall in Washington, D.C. Established by Congress using funds left by British scientist James Smithson, the institution was created to support “the increase and diffusion of knowledge.”
Trump’s latest order places its future at a crossroads, as the administration seeks to control the narratives presented within its walls. With the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence approaching in 2026, the president has also ordered improvements to Independence Hall in Philadelphia to ensure it aligns with his administration’s version of American history.
As the battle over historical narratives intensifies, the impact of this executive order will likely extend far beyond the Smithsonian, fueling broader debates over free speech, historical interpretation, and the role of government in shaping public institutions.
