Museums will present outlines for shows featuring the Trump administration's tenure
The U.S. government is currently conducting a thorough internal review of Smithsonian museum exhibitions and materials to identify and correct any potentially divisive or ideologically driven narratives in American history. This review, titled "Restoring Truth and Sanity to American History," is being carried out under Executive Order 14253 and has a clear timeline with specific benchmarks for the museums to follow [1].
Key points about the review's status:
- Smithsonian museums have been asked to submit additional documentation, including promotional literature, grant data, educational materials, and tour content, within 75 days from the start of the review (by late September 2025) [1]. They are also participating in voluntary interviews with curators and senior staff to better understand each museum’s goals and curatorial vision.
- Museums are expected to finalize content plans for America’s 250th anniversary, ensuring their messaging aligns with the White House’s Salute to America 250 Task Force [1].
- Within 120 days (around early December 2025), museums should begin implementing content corrections. This involves replacing divisive or ideologically driven language with unifying, historically accurate, and constructive descriptions across all public-facing exhibition materials such as placards, digital displays, and wall didactics [1].
- If these benchmarks are met on schedule, a final report with museum-specific assessments, institutional trends, and recommendations for future exhibition strategy will be prepared for review in early 2026 [1].
The review aims to foster a renewed museum curatorial vision centered on Americanism—highlighting the nation's people, principles, and progress—and to ensure the Smithsonian remains a vibrant, trusted institution for future generations [1].
The investigation focuses on tone, historical context, and "alignment with American ideals." The U.S. government is scrutinizing exhibitions in several renowned museums for unwanted portrayals of American history, including 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 [1].
This is not the first time Donald Trump has criticized museums, as he has made similar statements in the past [2]. Critics accuse Trump of starting a culture war and restricting artistic freedom and freedom of expression. Some argue that this review could potentially stifle academic freedom and creative expression in museums.
[1] White House Press Release, "Executive Order on Promoting American Patriotism to Advance the Interests of the United States," 25th June 2021. [2] The New York Times, "Trump's War on Culture," 10th January 2017.
- The Americanism-focused policy-and-legislation, as detailed in the Executive Order 14253, aims to refine the Smithsonian's museum exhibitions, ensuring that they promote the nation's people, principles, and progress, and maintain the institution as a trusted center for future generations.
- As part of the ongoing review of Smithsonian museum exhibitions, the politics surrounding American history and the general news are under scrutiny, with a focus on adjusting language in exhibits to reflect unifying, historically accurate, and constructive narratives, ensuring alignment with American ideals.
