Trump launches new push against US history

U.S. President Donald Trump has initiated a new effort to reshape the narrative of American history presented in national institutions. He signed an executive order requiring warning signs to be posted outside the National Museum of American History in Washington, D.C. Trump asserts that certain exhibits provide a misleading portrayal of the nation's past.

The directive mandates temporary signs at the museum's gates, instructing visitors that exhibits need revision to include what the administration deems a more accurate view of American history. This decision follows criticism of the museum's historical presentations by Republican lawmakers during a recent congressional session with museum director Anthea Hartig.

The White House stated the move came after a report accused the Smithsonian Institution, which operates the museum, of prioritizing social justice and progressive ideology over a balanced historical narrative. The report also claimed the museum inadequately acknowledges Christianity's role in the U.S. founding and often portrays white Christian men negatively as symbols of oppressive power structures.

This presidential order represents the latest action in Trump's broader plan to transform government cultural institutions since returning to office in 2025. His administration has consistently targeted what it refers to as "woke" ideology within museums and educational organizations. These concerns have been echoed by several Republican lawmakers, including one representative who recently accused the museum of engaging in progressive political activism. Trump has previously called for investigations into museums regarding their handling of topics such as slavery and race, and in May 2025, he removed the director of the National Portrait Gallery over similar allegations.

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President Trump ordered new signs outside the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History to warn that its depiction of U.S. history, in his view, is “inaccurate.”