Museums examining American values under Trump's guidance
The Trump administration has initiated a comprehensive review of museums in Washington, D.C., with the aim of ensuring that their exhibitions align with American ideals and celebrate American exceptionalism. The review, which marks a departure from previous administrations, is intended to focus museum content on themes of success, progress, unity, and the future of the United States, especially as the country approaches its 250th anniversary.
The directive, which was formalized in a White House letter signed by senior presidential assistants Lindsey Halligan, Vince Haley, and Russell Vought, targets museums such as 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 Smithsonian Institution, which operates several museums, especially in Washington, is among the institutions being scrutinized.
The initiative reflects the Trump administration’s desire to shape national museum narratives in a way that emphasizes patriotism, unity, and American accomplishments, countering what it perceives as prevailing "woke" or divisive perspectives within the cultural institutions. This move comes in response to President Trump's aim to combat "divisive or biased" narratives about American history.
Details of the initiative include museums submitting exhibition plans, educational and promotional materials, curatorial guidelines, and digital content to a White House review team within specified deadlines. The White House team will conduct interviews with curators and senior staff to understand curatorial visions and goals. Museums are expected to revise and correct content by replacing divisive or ideological language with descriptions that are unifying, historically accurate, and constructive.
The review and revisions should be completed by early 2026, with a final report including assessments and recommendations. The effort is positioned as a collaborative and forward-looking opportunity to "renew the Smithsonian's role as the world's leading museum institution" rooted in Americanism and national pride.
The decree claims that there have been "coordinated and widespread efforts to rewrite the history of our country and replace facts with a distorted narrative driven more by ideology than truth." It states that the incomparable heritage of the USA, which advances freedom, individual rights, and human happiness, has been portrayed as racist, sexist, oppressive, or otherwise irredeemably flawed. Exhibition texts, wall labels, websites, and educational materials will be examined for tone, historical context, and "alignment with American ideals."
This move has sparked criticism from some quarters, with critics accusing President Trump of igniting a cultural war and restricting artistic freedom and free expression. They argue that the review could stifle creative expression and limit the ability of museums to present diverse perspectives and interpretations of American history.
[1] White House Letter [2] New York Times Article [3] Washington Post Article [4] Smithsonian Statement
