White House Orders Smithsonian Review to Align Exhibits With History

A White House letter sent this week orders a wide-ranging review of the Smithsonian’s public-facing content to align exhibits, texts, and educational materials with President Trump’s interpretation of American history, targeting eight national museums initially and setting strict deadlines ahead of the United States’ 250th birthday. The document directs a comprehensive assessment of tone, framing, and alignment with what the administration calls American ideals, with a timeline that requires submissions within 30 days and concrete corrective actions within 120 days.

The inquiry will focus on eight institutions at the Smithsonian complex—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—though officials say additional museums could be reviewed in later phases. Public-facing elements such as social media posts, exhibit text, and educational materials will be examined for tone and historical framing,...