President Donald Trump has mandated the installation of warning signs at the Smithsonian National Museum of American History, advising visitors that certain exhibits are considered “inaccurate” by his administration.
The directive instructs the Department of the Interior to issue these cautionary notices and to provide guidance on where visitors can access what the administration deems “accurate information regarding America’s history.”
The Trump administration has frequently criticized the Smithsonian Institution—the world’s largest research museum complex—alongside various academic institutions, alleging they harbor an anti-American bias.
The Smithsonian has not yet issued a formal response to requests for comment.
The Friday directive, titled “Restoring Trust in the Smithsonian Institution,” asserts that museum leadership failed to sufficiently honor the nation’s founders during the 250th anniversary of American independence celebrated on July 4.
The order alleges that the museum’s leadership views American history primarily as a “prime tool” to promote social justice and radical societal transformation.
A simultaneous White House statement accused the museum of pivoting toward “extreme political activism, rooted in Marxism, to divide, dispirit, and discourage Americans.”
The executive order issued on Friday does not specify which alternative sources the White House recommends for a more accurate historical perspective.
This move follows recent congressional hearings where Republican lawmakers questioned Smithsonian Director Anthea Hartig, accusing the institution of being “infected by a woke ideology” within its public displays, educational resources, and planning documents.
Earlier this month, the White House Domestic Policy Council published a critical report claiming the museum “erases our heritage.”
As part of a broader effort to reshape American culture and counter what he describes as “woke” left-wing ideology, Trump has signed several orders aimed at removing diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs from federal agencies, some of which have faced legal opposition.
In March, the President issued a separate order targeting the Smithsonian, demanding the elimination of “improper, divisive, or anti-American ideology.”
Largely funded by the federal government, the Smithsonian attracts between 15 and 30 million annual visitors. The institution operates 21 museums across Washington, Virginia, and New York, including the National Museum of American History, the National Portrait Gallery, the American Art Museum, and the National Zoo.
