President Donald Trump has announced a new executive order to address the “anti-American ideology” permeating the Smithsonian Institution and its associated museums and research centers. The executive order, signed on Thursday, seeks to ensure that the Smithsonian’s exhibits and educational materials align with American values, protecting the integrity of the nation’s history and culture from what he describes as divisive and false narratives.
The executive order, which was highlighted in a Fact Sheet on the White House website, directs the Vice President, a member of the Smithsonian Board of Regents, to lead efforts to eliminate any improper or anti-American content within the Smithsonian complex. This includes the Smithsonian’s museums, research centers, and the National Zoo.
One of the central tenets of the order is to ensure that any future funding for the Smithsonian is used to support exhibits that celebrate shared American values, rather than divisive or controversial content. Specifically, the order prohibits funding for programs that promote ideologies inconsistent with Federal law or that divide Americans by race. Additionally, the order stresses the importance of celebrating women’s achievements in the proposed American Women’s History Museum, while stating that the museum should not include biological men who identify as women, addressing concerns raised over the inclusion of transgender individuals in women’s history displays.
In recent years, the Smithsonian has faced criticism for its handling of sensitive cultural issues. In 2023, it began fundraising for a “Museum of American Women,” which has sparked controversy due to its inclusion of transgender women as part of the museum’s focus. Similarly, in 2020, the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture became embroiled in debate after its web page on “whiteness” defined certain traits, such as individualism, hard work, and a belief in science, as components of a problematic white cultural identity.
Another key aspect of Trump’s order seeks to restore and preserve American history, particularly in public spaces. The order instructs the Secretary of the Interior to restore federal parks, monuments, memorials, statues, and other markers that have been improperly removed or altered in the past five years. This directive reflects Trump’s ongoing commitment to protecting American heritage from the erasure of historical figures and events. His administration is concerned that recent efforts to remove monuments, especially those of figures like George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, and Abraham Lincoln, represent a broader attempt to rewrite history.
Trump’s decision to take action against what he describes as an “anti-American” bias within the Smithsonian Institution is part of his larger push to ensure that American history is presented in a way that reflects national pride and unity. As the nation continues to grapple with ongoing debates about race, history, and identity, Trump’s executive order signals a significant moment in the ongoing culture wars, with implications for how future generations will understand the story of America.
READ NEXT: Trump Promises & Demands Major Shift In Kennedy Center Programming
You were doing great with this article until you stated… the free state of Florida. Just what does that mean.