The Trump Smithsonian order directs the Department of the Interior to post warning signs outside the Smithsonian National Museum of American History, cautioning visitors about exhibits the administration considers “inaccurate,” according to BBC reporting. President Donald Trump ordered the signs to be placed on Friday, instructing officials to also direct visitors to where they can find what the administration calls “accurate information regarding America’s history.”
The order, titled “Restoring Trust in the Smithsonian Institution,” accuses museum leadership of failing to sufficiently celebrate America’s founders during the country’s 250th anniversary of independence on 4 July, the BBC reported. It further claims the museum’s leadership views American history as a tool to advance ideas of social justice and what it describes as the radical transformation of society.
A White House statement accompanying the order accused the Smithsonian of veering toward extreme political activism rooted in Marxism, alleging it seeks to divide and discourage Americans, according to the BBC. The order does not specify what alternative sources the White House considers better qualified to present the country’s history. The full text of the order is available through the White House.
The Smithsonian Institution, the world’s largest research museum, did not immediately respond to the BBC’s request for comment. The administration has repeatedly accused the Smithsonian and other academic organisations of harbouring an anti-American bias.
Democratic lawmakers who oversee the Smithsonian condemned the order. Congresswoman Melanie Stansbury, ranking member of the House Administration Committee, wrote on social media platform X that the order amounted to political overreach driven by an ideological agenda to rewrite American history, and said the institution belongs to the American people rather than the president, the BBC reported.
Friday’s order follows two congressional hearings in recent days in which Smithsonian director Anthea Hartig was questioned by Republican lawmakers, who accused the museum of being shaped by what they called a “woke ideology” that had spread into public displays, educational materials and planning documents, according to the BBC. Earlier this month, the White House Domestic Policy Council released a report alleging the museum “erases our heritage.”
The order is part of a broader effort by Trump to reshape American cultural institutions, which he has said have been influenced by left-wing ideology, the BBC reported. He has signed multiple orders aimed at eliminating diversity, equity and inclusion programmes across the federal government, several of which have faced legal challenges. In March, Trump issued a separate order targeting the Smithsonian, directing it to eliminate what the administration described as improper, divisive or anti-American ideology.
The Smithsonian is largely funded by the federal government and offers free entry to an estimated 15 to 30 million visitors annually, according to the BBC. It operates 21 museums across Washington, Virginia and New York, including the National Museum of American History, the National Portrait Gallery, the American Art Museum and the National Zoo.
The controversy has also raised questions about the role of government in shaping public institutions and historical interpretation. Supporters of the order say the Smithsonian should present a balanced account of the nation’s past, while critics argue that political intervention could influence how complex historical events are presented to the public. The debate is expected to continue as the administration moves forward with its plans, attracting widespread public and political attention across the country.
It remains unclear when the warning signs will be installed or what specific exhibits they will reference, as the order does not provide further detail on implementation. The Trump Smithsonian order reflects a broader push to reshape political and cultural narratives that has drawn attention beyond the United States, including debate at Australia’s Labor National Conference.
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