White House report says Smithsonian museum pushes activism

A White House report released over the July 4th weekend accuses the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of American History of abandoning historical scholarship for political activism and failing to present an inspiring narrative of the nation’s founding. The 162-page document, published by the White House Domestic Policy Council, concludes the museum “cannot be trusted to tell America’s story honestly” and has been captured by a “radical, activist ideology.”

The report, titled “Restoring Truth and Sanity to American History,” is a follow-up to an executive order President Donald Trump issued in March 2025. It focuses heavily on the leadership of museum director Anthea Hartig, who has been in the role since 2019. The report cites her public statements, including that she sees history as “a prime tool of social justice” and that her role involves “connecting research and scholarship to activism and advocacy.” It also notes her stated goal to “reframe the traditional celebratory narrative of U.S. history.”

Key findings allege the museum intentionally withholds a positive account of America’s origins. The report states a visitor will find no major exhibit dedicated to the...