Trump orders Smithsonian review to align with American exceptionalism

President Donald Trump has directed his administration to undertake a comprehensive internal review of Smithsonian Institution exhibits and materials to ensure they align with his vision of American exceptionalism. A White House letter to Smithsonian Secretary Lonnie G. Bunch III outlines an eight-museum focus and sets a tight timeline for review, with plans to adjust public-facing content within 120 days. The move comes as the administration has already placed Vice President JD Vance in charge of removing programs that it says degrade shared American values, intensifying debates over how U.S. history is presented in national museums ahead of the 250th anniversary of the nation’s founding in 2026.

The scope of the review targets eight of the Smithsonian’s most prominent 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 White House letter states that the effort is intended to ensure...