President Donald Trump announced Tuesday that he has directed his attorneys to conduct a comprehensive review of Smithsonian museums, citing concerns that their exhibitions present an overly negative portrayal of American history.
In a Truth Social post, Trump criticized the Smithsonian’s current approach to presenting American history, writing that the institution is “OUT OF CONTROL” and focuses too heavily on “how horrible our Country is, how bad Slavery was, and how unaccomplished the downtrodden have been.”
The president argued that the museums fail to highlight “Success,” “Brightness,” or “the Future” in their presentations of American history.
The White House review will focus on eight Smithsonian institutions, including the National Museum of African American History and Culture, the National Museum of American History, the National Museum of Natural History, and the National Air and Space Museum. Other institutions under review include the National Museum of the American Indian, the Smithsonian American Art Museum, the National Portrait Gallery, and the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden.
Trump indicated the review would follow “the exact same process” his administration has used for colleges and universities, which he characterized as having achieved “tremendous progress.” A White House official told NBC News that the administration plans to hold the Smithsonian “accountable” and potentially extend the review to other museums beyond Washington.
The review stems from a March executive order signed by Trump directing Vice President JD Vance and Interior Secretary Doug Burgum to “remove improper ideology” from all areas of the Smithsonian.
The American Alliance of Museums issued a statement opposing the administration’s efforts, emphasizing that public trust in museums depends on “independent scholarship and research” and “open inquiry.”
“When any directive dictates what should or should not be displayed, it risks narrowing the public’s window into evidence, ideas, and a full range of perspectives,” the organization stated.
Cover Image: Exhibit at the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of African American History and Culture. Emily Chang/ABC News
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