All articles tagged with #national museum of american history
President Trump issued an executive action directing the installation of temporary signs outside the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History to warn visitors about alleged ideological capture and to reflect findings from a White House report criticizing the museum’s exhibits, prompting pushback from Smithsonian leaders who defend independence and accuracy and drawing congressional scrutiny.
President Trump issued an executive order directing the Interior Department to install temporary warning signs outside the National Museum of American History, telling visitors that the museum’s historical accounts are not accurate and directing them to resources for “accurate information.” The move follows a White House report criticizing the museum as promoting a woke, activist narrative, and comes amid congressional criticism of the museum’s leadership. It remained unclear by July 25, 2026 whether any signs had been placed.
President Trump directed signs be placed on National Park Service sidewalks outside the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History directing visitors to a White House report criticizing the museum’s portrayal of American history, and called for a temporary exhibit to correct what his administration calls inaccurate information. The move comes amid congressional scrutiny of the Smithsonian’s governance and funding, as the museum defends its scholarship and independence from political interference.
House Republicans on the Administration Committee grilled Anthea Hartig, director of the National Museum of American History, after a White House report accused the Smithsonian leadership of extreme political activism and erasing American history; Hartig defended the museum’s mission, invited lawmakers to tour the museum, and Democrats denounced attempts to politicize cultural institutions amid broader scrutiny of Smithsonian programming.
Smithsonian Secretary Lonnie G. Bunch III defended the National Museum of American History to staff after a White House report accused the Smithsonian of pushing “extreme political activism,” saying the museum’s work is driven by scholarship, accuracy and telling the fullness of America’s history.
The White House released a 162-page report accusing the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History of 'extreme political activism' as part of President Trump’s effort to reshape the telling of the United States’ founding story, a move that followed his July 4 address and drew swift criticism from historians.
A White House report accuses Smithsonian's National Museum of American History of ideological capture and promoting activist, 'social justice' framing over traditional history, criticizing director Anthea Hartig, noting the exclusion of Founding Era topics and a shift from scholarship to activism ahead of the nation's 250th anniversary.