Smithsonian
Share and Follow

(The Hill) – White House officials are launching a review of some of the Smithsonian’s museums to ensure “alignment” with President Trump’s “directive to celebrate American exceptionalism, remove divisive or partisan narratives, and restore confidence in our shared cultural institutions.”

A Tuesday letter to Smithsonian Institution Secretary Lonnie Bunch was signed by the Domestic Policy Council’s Vince Haley, White House senior associate staff secretary Lindsey Halligan and Office of Management and Budget Director Russ Vought, the Wall Street Journal reported. The review outlined in the letter, Halligan told the paper, “is about preserving trust in one of our most cherished institutions.”

A White House official confirmed the Wall Street Journal’s report to The Hill.

Smithsonian
Visitors look at a photograph of former President Donald Trump by Pari Dukovic hanging in the America’s Presidents exhibition at the Smithsonian’s National Portrait Gallery in Washington, Friday, May 14, 2021. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)

Some of the review’s focus will be on exhibits that are poised to be featured as part of next year’s 250th anniversary celebration of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.

The letter instructed eight of the Smithsonian’s museums including the National Museum of African American History and Culture, the National Museum of American History, the National Portrait Gallery and the National Museum of the American Indian, among others to replace exhibits that include “divisive or ideologically driven” material with “unifying, historically accurate” content, according to the news outlet. 

In March, Trump signed an executive order that accused the Smithsonian Institution of being influenced in “recent years” by “a divisive, race-centered ideology.”

“This shift has promoted narratives that portray American and Western values as inherently harmful and oppressive,” the order said, part of a broader effort by the Trump administration to roll back former President Biden-era initiatives that promoted diversity, equity and inclusion. 

Last month, Halligan, one of the signers of the White House letter to Bunch, criticized an exhibit at the National Museum of American History, saying, “American taxpayers should not be funding institutions that undermine our country or promote one-sided, divisive political narratives.”

“The Smithsonian Institution should present history in a way that is accurate, balanced, and consistent with the values that make the United States of America exceptional,” Halligan told Fox News Digital.

The Smithsonian made headlines in recent weeks after its National Museum of American History removed an exhibit referencing Trump’s two impeachments. The museum later said in a statement that the placard that contained information about Trump’s impeachments would be restored after being ” updated in the coming weeks to reflect all impeachment proceedings in our nation’s history.”

“We were not asked by any Administration or other government official to remove content from the exhibit,” the statement said. 

Share and Follow
You May Also Like
Russia says Ukraine peace talks 'proceeding constructively,' as Kremlin launches deadly strike on Odesa

Zelenskyy Refutes Russian Allegations of Ukrainian Strike on Putin’s Residence

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy dismissed accusations from top Kremlin officials on Monday,…
Congresswoman accused of stealing $5M in COVID funds maintains innocence

Congresswoman Denies Allegations in $5M COVID Funds Scandal: The Truth Behind the Accusations

Outside a Miami federal courthouse on Monday, U.S. Representative Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick firmly…
Anthony Joshua 'is stable', officials confirm after Nigeria crash

Boxing Champion Anthony Joshua Confirmed Stable Following Nigeria Car Accident, Officials Say

Nigerian authorities have reported that champion boxer Anthony Joshua is in stable…
Jacksonville police investigating shooting in Pinecrest neighborhood off Normandy Boulevard

Jacksonville Police Probe Pinecrest Neighborhood Shooting Near Normandy Boulevard: Latest Updates

A Jacksonville Fire Rescue Department spokesperson reported that an adult sustained life-threatening…
Fears Anthony Joshua's crash injuries are worse than thought

Concerns Rise Over Anthony Joshua’s Crash: Injuries Potentially More Severe Than Initially Reported

Concerns are mounting over Anthony Joshua’s injuries from a recent car accident,…
What to do on New Year's Eve 2025: Chicago officials share new details for 2026 Loop event featuring Chance the Rapper

Ring in 2026: Chicago’s Epic New Year’s Eve Bash with Chance the Rapper in the Loop

CHICAGO (WLS) — Excitement is building in Chicago as city officials unveil…
Cellphone data defined 2025’s biggest criminal cases as expert calls them a 'crime scene in their pocket'

Expert Declares Cellphone Data as Key to Solving 2025’s Major Criminal Cases

In the pockets of countless Americans, a small device has become an…
Photos show how Anthony Joshua came within inches of death

Anthony Joshua’s Narrow Escape: Shocking Photos Reveal How Boxing Star Avoided Tragedy

Photos have surfaced showing the harrowing scene of a car crash in…