Trump’s Executive Order Targets Smithsonian’s Racial Exhibitions and Censors History

President Trump has issued an executive order attacking the Smithsonian Institution, accusing it of promoting “divisive, race-based ideology.” This declaration, titled “Restoring Truth and Sanity to American History,” aims to halt federal funding for exhibitions that address racial themes, with Trump specifically targeting displays he claims divide Americans.

The order demands Vice President JD Vance eliminate what Trump labels “improper ideology” from the Smithsonian’s 19 museums and the National Zoo. Additionally, it seeks the restoration of various public monuments that were previously removed or altered, primarily those celebrating individuals associated with racism, such as Confederate leaders.

In the order, Trump alleges a coordinated effort to rewrite American history, wrongly claiming that objective facts are being replaced by a distorted narrative. He points to current exhibitions at institutions like the Smithsonian American Art Museum as examples of this supposed rewriting, particularly criticizing shows that explore race and its representation in American sculpture.

While the specifics of the administration’s intentions remain vague, there are indications that exhibitions addressing slavery and significant figures in African American history, such as Mary McLeod Bethune, may face censorship. The directive also calls out an exhibit at the upcoming Smithsonian American Women’s History Museum regarding gender identity in sports, a move interpreted as an attack on discussions surrounding transgender and nonbinary inclusion.

Trump’s executive order further instructs Vance to work alongside Russell Vought from the Office of Management and Budget to ensure that future congressional appropriations prohibit funding for programs perceived as undermining shared American values. This is not Trump’s first conflict with the Smithsonian; previous actions have already curtailed discussions of diversity, equity, and inclusion at these institutions.