President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Friday mandating that warning signs be placed outside the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History. The document, titled 'Restore Trust in the Smithsonian Institution', directs the Department of the Interior to issue notices to visitors about exhibitions the administration deems inaccurate. In addition to the warnings, the department is required to direct the public to locations where they can find information that officials consider accurate in the context of American history.
The Trump administration has frequently accused the Smithsonian, as well as other academic institutions, of fostering anti-American bias. The order explicitly states that the museum’s leadership is not doing enough to celebrate the nation’s founders, particularly in the run-up to the 250th anniversary of the country’s independence, which is marked on 4 July. According to the text of the order, the museum’s leadership treats history as a primary tool for advancing the ideas of social justice and radical transformation.
A statement from the White House further accuses the museum of drifting towards political activism rooted in Marxism. It states that such activism aims to divide Americans, discourage them, and undermine the national consensus. Trump and his allies argue that the institution politicises its work by focusing on historical injustices rather than triumphant moments, such as the signing of the Declaration of Independence.
