President Donald Trump has initiated a sweeping executive action to reshape the narrative surrounding American history at the Smithsonian Institution.
According to the New York Post, His recent executive order mandates the purge of any "improper, divisive or anti-American ideology" from the Smithsonian, including prominent museums.
On Thursday, Trump signed an executive order supervising extensive alterations to the content and presentation across Smithsonian museums, such as the National Museum of African American History and Culture and other associated bodies of the renowned institution.
Engaged in enforcing these changes is Vice President JD Vance, who has been given specific duties of overseeing the execution of the decree. Trump's exercise of authority extends to instructing the Interior Department to restore what he deems altered or removed aspects of federal parks, monuments, and memorials.
The order claims these changes in past years have led to a flawed reinterpretation of history. This is part of Trump's broader agenda to end diversity and inclusion programs perceived as opposed within various sectors like government, education, and corporations.
Trump's executive command also aims to reduce funding for what the administration identifies as programs that promote "divisive narratives" and purportedly misrepresent America's ethos of liberty, as supposedly propagated by the prior Biden administration.
Critics include certain interpretations within the National Museum of African American History and Culture. The order articulates concerns about the museum's depiction of concepts like "hard work," "individualism," and "the nuclear family" as elements categorized under "White culture."
Similarly, the impending American Women's History Museum came under fire for alleged plans to acknowledge male athletes who have competed in women's sports, demonstrating the administration's viewpoint on contemporary gender and sports debates.
The Smithsonian encompasses a broad network, including 21 museums and 14 educational and research centers situated primarily in Washington, D.C. These range from the National Air and Space Museum to the National Museum of American History.
Trump has made several controversial moves during his presidency concerning America's historical narrative and cultural institutions. Before this order, he had reinstated the names of U.S. Army bases and made remarks defending participants in the 2017 Charlottesville rally as "very fine people on both sides," which garnered widespread criticism.
Moreover, he assumed the role of chairman of the Kennedy Center and displayed his portrait at the Smithsonian's National Portrait Gallery, showcasing his active engagement in cultural leadership.
The order is formally titled "Restoring Truth and Sanity to American History," reflecting the administration's critical stance on previous educational and historical interpretations.
Vice President Vance is not only responsible for this initiative's rollout but also serves as a member of the Smithsonian’s Board of Regents, placing him in a strategic position to influence its implementation effectively.
Despite the substantial implications of this order, the White House has not released additional details, and reactions from the Smithsonian or the specifically targeted African American History museum are still forthcoming.
The directive’s impact and the practical details of its implementation remain to be observed, as the Smithsonian navigates this notable shift in its operation and historical presentation under Trump's directive.
