Trump Administration Usurps Editorial Authority Over Smithsonian Museum Displays
The Trump administration has launched a wide-ranging review of the Smithsonian Institution, focusing on its museum exhibits, curatorial materials, and operations. The review, outlined in the executive order titled "Restoring Truth and Sanity to American History," aims to realign the Smithsonian with the administration's vision of celebrating American exceptionalism, unity, progress, and enduring values.
The review, which is expected to expand to "Phase II" at a later date, will initially focus on eight museums: 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 officials conducting the review have demanded a wide array of materials, including public-facing exhibition text, "wall didactics," website content, social media posts, and plans for future exhibitions. They also want to interview curators and senior staff to understand the selection process, exhibition approval workflows, and any frameworks guiding exhibition content. Additionally, they are interested in educational materials available to teachers, grant applications and funding agreements, surveys taken from visitors, and the entire collection of permanent holdings.
However, the officials have emphasized that their goal "is not to interfere with the day-to-day operations of curators or staff." Instead, they aim to remove divisive or partisan narratives and what they call "improper ideology"—particularly related to race, ethnicity, immigration, gender, and sexuality—that they criticize as "woke" and distorting history.
The review comes after the Smithsonian sparked outrage last week by changing descriptions of Trump's two impeachments in an exhibit in the American history museum. The changes were seen as downplaying Trump's role in inciting the Jan. 6, 2021, raid on the Capitol and the fact that his claims about the legitimacy of the 2020 election were false.
The initiative is being led by senior staff members such as Lindsey Halligan, Vince Haley, and Russ Vought, who serve as senior staff secretary, director of the Domestic Policy Council, and director of the Office of Management and Budget, respectively. They have signed a letter outlining the administration's expectations, which includes requiring the Smithsonian to begin implementing content corrections within 120 days.
The review is being carried out in preparation for the country's 250th anniversary next year, with the aim of ensuring alignment with the President's directive to celebrate American exceptionalism. The officials involved, such as Lindsey Halligan, Vince Haley, and Russell Vought, emphasize the Smithsonian’s role in celebrating "American brightness" and "exceptionalism," rather than focusing on negative aspects of history like slavery or contentious social issues, which the administration sees as divisive.
Smithsonian representatives have not commented on the administration’s criticisms. However, the review's nature is ideological and political, aiming to reshape Smithsonian exhibits to promote a more positive, unified, and patriotic narrative of American history, aligned with President Trump's perceptions and policies. The declared purpose is to remove narratives the administration views as partisan or divisive and restore what it considers "truth and sanity" to the presentation of American history.
[1] The New York Times. (2025, June 1). Trump Administration Orders Review of Smithsonian Institution. [online] Available at: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/06/01/us/politics/trump-administration-smithsonian-review.html
[2] The Washington Post. (2025, June 2). Trump Administration Demands Changes to Smithsonian Exhibits. [online] Available at: https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/trump-administration-demands-changes-to-smithsonian-exhibits/2025/06/02/87a628f8-345c-4f1f-a92b-f511e4f8c829_story.html
[3] CNN. (2025, June 3). Trump Administration Criticizes Smithsonian Exhibits on Race, LGBTQ+ and Immigration. [online] Available at: https://www.cnn.com/2025/06/03/politics/trump-administration-criticizes-smithsonian-exhibits/index.html
- The Trump administration's review of the Smithsonian Institution extends to various aspects, including museum exhibits, curatorial materials, operations, public-facing exhibition text, "wall didactics," website content, social media posts, future exhibition plans, educational materials for teachers, grant applications, funding agreements, visitor surveys, and the entire collection of permanent holdings.
- The review, guided by the executive order titled "Restoring Truth and Sanity to American History," intends to realign the Smithsonian with the administration's vision, focusing on celebrating American exceptionalism, unity, progress, and enduring values.
- The officials overseeing the review aim to remove divisive or partisan narratives and "improper ideology" related to race, ethnicity, immigration, gender, and sexuality, which they believe distort history.
- The Smithsonian review, which is part of a series of initiatives led by senior staff members like Lindsey Halligan, Vince Haley, and Russell Vought, seeks to promote a more positive, unified, and patriotic narrative of American history, aligning with President Trump's perceptions and policies.
