Trump to plaster Smithsonian museum with warning signs against alleged disinformation

Trump invokes, in the new order, an investigative report he initiated that concludes that one cannot trust the current leadership to convey American history "honestly." The decree states that over the past decade there have been "concerted and widespread efforts to rewrite the history of our country and replace facts with a distorted narrative driven by ideology rather than truth."

Background: The Smithsonian Institution

The decree targets the Smithsonian Institution, of which the National Museum of American History is a part. Ahead of the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States, exhibition texts, wall labels, websites and educational materials are to be examined for tone, historical framing, and "alignment with American ideals." In the spirit of patriotism, the "unparalleled heritage of our nation" should no longer be portrayed as sexist, racist or oppressive, the text states.

Critics see the project as an intrusion into the independence of the museums and warn of historical whitewashing. The government justifies its action with the accusation of "ideological capture" of the Smithsonian Institution, while critics see it as a culture war. A year ago, the Trump administration had already had exhibitions at famous museums in Washington vetted.

Criticism and Reactions

The move is part of a broader dispute over interpretive authority over American history. Museums such as the National Museum of American History have for decades been places of scholarly and curatorial engagement with the past of the United States. The current order would further restrict that editorial independence, observers argue.

It remains unclear which specific exhibition texts and contents are being challenged and how the Smithsonian Institution will respond to the order. The museum itself has not publicly commented on the plans to date. The White House announced that it would closely monitor the implementation of the decree.

Outlook for the Anniversary Year

The decree is part of a series of cultural-policy initiatives by the Trump administration that seek to readjust the handling of history, education and the media. The debate over the role of state institutions in conveying history is likely to intensify further in view of the 2026 anniversary year.

Observers point out that the Smithsonian Institution is organized as an independent foundation and has until now oriented its museum work according to its own professional standards. The externally mandated review now ordered breaks with that tradition and raises the question of how much political control over cultural institutions will be permissible going forward.