US Government Accuses Smithsonian Institution of Ideological Activism

Criticism of Specific Exhibitions

The White House specifically criticizes, among other things, the treatment of historical figures such as George Washington and Thomas Jefferson in the context of slavery and oppression. The report also takes issue with the museum's handling of trans issues relating to children, what the government considers an overly positive portrayal of irregular migration, and a supportive stance on the issue of abortion.

The report is the result of an executive order signed by Trump in March 2025. It obliges the Interior Department, among other things, to review monuments, plaques, and statues in national parks and public spaces to determine whether they portray the history of the United States in a negative light.

Possible Funding Cuts and Political Pressure

Recently, a US appeals court lifted a preliminary injunction that had previously prevented the government from being required to reinstall monuments removed from national parks on topics such as slavery and racism. As a result, the interventions in the culture of remembrance, carried out on Trump's instructions since last year, remain in place.

According to the report, financial funds for exhibitions and programs that "diminish shared American values, divide Americans based on their origins, or promote programs or ideologies that are incompatible with federal law and policy" could be withheld in the future. The Smithsonian is also being urged to "remove inappropriate ideology" from its facilities.

Last year, Trump ordered by decree that museums must work toward a historical portrayal aligned with the government's viewpoint. Trump has long campaigned against what he sees as an overly left-leaning interpretation of history and has been condemned by critics for waging a culture war.

Background: Culture War Over Memory

The Smithsonian Institution is the parent organization of the National Museum of American History and is considered one of the country's most important research and educational institutions. It operates numerous museums, research centers, and the National Zoo in Washington. The latest dispute over its programmatic direction is part of a series of interventions in the culture of remembrance that have expanded since Trump took office.

APA / dpa reports dated July 6, 2026.