Irony in a Facebook feed…
White House to Vet Smithsonian Museums to Fit Trump's Historical Vision; Top White House officials will scrutinize exhibitions, internal processes, collections and artist grants ahead of America's 250th anniversary
McGraw, Meridith
The
White House plans
to conduct a far-reaching review of
Smithsonian museum exhibitions, materials and operations ahead of America's 250th anniversary
to ensure the museums align with President Trump's interpretation of American history .
In a letter sent
to Lonnie Bunch, the secretary of the
Smithsonian Institution, three top
White House officials said they want
to ensure the museums present the "unity, progress, and enduring values that define the American story" and reflect the president's executive order calling for "Restoring Truth and Sanity
to American History."
Areas under scrutiny range from public-facing exhibition text and online content
to internal curatorial processes, exhibition planning, the use of collections and artist grants.
"This initiative aims
to ensure alignment with the president's directive
to celebrate American exceptionalism, remove divisive or partisan narratives, and restore confidence in our shared cultural institutions," the letter states.
The letter, dated Tuesday, Aug. 12, and viewed by The Wall Street Journal, was signed by
White House senior associate Lindsey Halligan, the director of the domestic policy council, Vince Haley, and the director of the Office of Management and Budget, Russ Vought.
"This is about preserving trust in one of our most cherished institutions," Halligan said in a statement. "The
Smithsonian museums and exhibits should be accurate, patriotic, and enlightening—ensuring they remain places of learning, wonder, and national pride for generations
to come."
"The
Smithsonian's work is grounded in a deep commitment
to scholarly excellence, rigorous research, and the accurate, factual presentation of history," the
Smithsonian said. "We are reviewing the letter with this commitment in mind and will continue
to collaborate constructively with the
White House, Congress, and our governing Board of Regents."
The
White House review of the
Smithsonian's extensive collection of art and historical artifacts comes as the president has sought
to reorient the country's cultural institutions, including top universities , and demonstrates Trump's efforts
to recast parts of American history in a more positive light.
The
Smithsonian's Board of Regents agreed
to conduct a thorough review of all its museum and zoo content
to eliminate political influence and bias, the Journal previously reported.
Sarah Weicksel, executive director of the American Historical Association, said the
White House's effort was an affront
to the historians and curators trained
to ensure historical accuracy.
"If those things are taken out of the hands of historians, the public stands
to lose a great deal in having reliable and engaging content that tells a whole and complex story of the American past," she said.
The president singled out the
Smithsonian Institution in his executive order and said the
Smithsonian had recently "come under the influence of a divisive, race-centered ideology" that promotes "narratives that portray American and Western values as inherently harmful and oppressive." He directed Vice President JD Vance, a member of the
Smithsonian Board of Regents, and senior officials
to work with Congress
to block the
Smithsonian from receiving appropriations for exhibitions and programs that don't align with his opposition
to initiatives that promote diversity, equity and inclusion.
Tiya Miles, a professor of history at Harvard University, said she was concerned that the
Smithsonian would be asked
to interpret history based on "one man's view" as opposed
to scholarship and research.
"The
Smithsonian museums have never reflected one person's view, or even one administration's view," Miles said. "They have reflected the composite research, analysis, discussion, findings of many different people, scholars and researchers."
The
White House review will pay attention
to exhibits planned for the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. Trump and his team, including Haley , have been intimately involved in the planning for America's 250th celebrations.
Following the review, the
White House letter states that museums should make corrections that replace "divisive or ideologically driven" language with "unifying, historically accurate," public-facing materials.
The officials stated in the letter they don't intend
to interfere with the "day-
to-day operations of curators or staff" but want "
to support a broader vision of excellence that highlights historically accurate, uplifting, and inclusive portrayals of America's heritage."
The details requested by the
White House go beyond museum exhibitions and extend
to organization charts, responses
to visitor surveys, artists featured in galleries who have received a
Smithsonian grant, a list of outside partners, and internal communications related
to exhibit and artwork selection and approval. The museums are given 30 days
to turn over requested materials for the initial request.
The
White House laid out a timeline for the
Smithsonian to tap a representative
to work with the administration on 250th anniversary planning. A team from the
White House will also be conducting observational visits and walk-throughs of current exhibits
to document themes and messaging, and voluntary interviews with curators.
The review will focus on eight of the 19
Smithsonian museums based in Washington: 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.
The
White House stated the review of
Smithsonian museums is expected
to wrap at the beginning of 2026, according
to the letter.
