ADVERTISEMENT The White House is ordering a wide-ranging review of the Smithsonian museums and exhibitions ahead of the country’s 250th birthday.
The goal? Aligning the institution’s content with Donald Trump’s interpretation of American history.
In a letter sent Tuesday to Smithsonian Institution Secretary Lonnie Bunch III, the White House laid out in detail the steps it expects the organization to take as part of the announced review. The probe will look at all public-facing content, such as social media, exhibition text and educational materials, to “assess tone, historical framing, and alignment with American ideals,” according to the letter.
“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 added.
This review ordered by the White House directs the museums to submit materials from exhibits and drafts for upcoming events within 30 days. Within 120 days, the letter said, museums will be expected to take corrective action, “replacing divisive or ideologically driven language with unifying, historically accurate, and constructive descriptions.”
The Smithsonian said it remained committed to “scholarly excellence, rigorous research, and the accurate, factual presentation of history.”
“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,” it said in a statement.
The Smithsonian probe will initially focus on eight museums: the 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 letter said additional museums would be reviewed in subsequent phases.
The review, first reported by The Wall Street Journal, is the latest attempt by Trump to bring the country’s cultural institutions in line with his vision.
In February, Trump removed the Kennedy Center’s Board of Trustees and replaced them with his supporters. He even named himself chairman and vowed to end events featuring performers in drag, indicating he would take on a larger role in dictating the institution’s programming schedule.
This drew criticism from some artists, including the producers of Broadway hit musical Hamilton, who pulled out of staging the show in 2026, citing Trump’s aggressive takeover of the institution’s leadership.
Other artists who cancelled events include actor Issa Rae, singer Rhiannon Giddens and author Louise Penny.
In March, Trump signed an executive order titled “Restoring Truth and Sanity to American History,” which accused the Smithsonian of coming under the influence of a “divisive, race-centered ideology” and called upon it to “remove improper ideology” from the institution’s museums.
As for the Smithsonian, it has repeatedly denied allegations that it has changed or removed exhibit details in response to pressure from the Trump administration.
As we reported earlier this month, the institution removed references to Trump’s two impeachments from an exhibit on the American presidency.
A spokesman for the museum said the references, which were added in 2021, were intended to be a temporary measure and said a future exhibit would include details on all presidential impeachments.
The institution said there had been no nudge from the White House, with its statement reading: “We were not asked by any Administration or other government official to remove content from the exhibit.”
The timing of this now raises even more eyebrows, as Trump is clearly doubling down on his campaign to “restore truth” to what he sees as “anti-American” cultural spaces.
