The White House wants to rewrite history at the Smithsonian

Zack Frank, Smithsonian American Art Museum, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

In honor of the 250th anniversary of the United States, the White House has ordered a comprehensive review of the Smithsonian Institution's museums and exhibits to align their contents with the interpretation of history promoted by President Donald Trump.

A review of tone and ideology

In a letter sent to Smithsonian Secretary Lonnie Bunch III, the government details that the review will cover all public-facing content, from social media, exhibition texts, and educational materials, to "evaluate the tone, historical framing, and alignment with American ideals."
The letter emphasizes that the goal is to "celebrate American exceptionalism, eliminate divisive or partisan narratives, and restore trust in shared cultural institutions."

Smithsonian Response

The institution responded that it remains committed to "academic excellence, rigorous research, and the accurate and factual presentation of history," and assured that it will review the letter "with this commitment in mind."

A movement in line with other cultural actions

The review is part of a series of measures by the Trump administration to influence cultural institutions. In March, the president signed an executive order titled Restoring Truth and Sanity to American History, in which he accused the Smithsonian of adopting a “divisive, race-centered ideology.”
In February, he also replaced the members of the Kennedy Center Board of Trustees with his own supporters.

The initial process includes eight museums: the National Museum of American History, the National Museum of Natural History, the National Museum of African American History and Culture, and the National Museum of the American Indian. Additional institutions will be included in later phases.

Criticisms

Civic leaders denounce the focus on the African American Museum as seeking to minimize contributions and rewrite the obstacles facing African Americans.
The Smithsonian has denied altering or removing information due to political pressure. It recently removed references to Trump's two impeachment trials from a presidential exhibit, claiming it was a temporary inclusion.

The White House letter mandates that museums submit materials from current exhibits and drafts of upcoming events within 30 days. Within 120 days, they must "replace divisive or ideologically charged language" with "unifying, historically accurate, and constructive" descriptions.

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Sources:

• AP News