President Donald Trump has signed a significant executive order aimed at reshaping the Smithsonian Institution, targeting what he describes as "improper, divisive or anti-American ideology" across the celebrated museum complex. The order comes amidst a broader effort by Trump's administration to address what they see as liberal biases within cultural institutions, particularly regarding the portrayal of American history and values.

The executive order, titled “Restoring Truth and Sanity to American History,” includes directives for Vice President JD Vance, a member of the Smithsonian's Board of Regents, to eliminate ideologies deemed inconsistent with what the administration refers to as shared American values. Trump argues that many of the narratives promoted by the Smithsonian, including those present in the National Museum of African American History and Culture, depict America’s founding principles in a negative light. He claims that over the past decade, there has been a “concerted effort” to rewrite history, replacing objective facts with what he calls “distorted narratives” driven by ideology rather than truth, as reported by The New York Times.

The order specifically identifies programs that divide Americans based on race and includes plans for the Smithsonian American Women’s History Museum to refrain from recognizing transgender women. Trump's framework underlines a desire to reposition federal cultural institutions as bastions of American greatness, distancing them from the “woke” ideologies he criticizes. He suggests that programs which depict hard work and the nuclear family as aspects of "white culture" should be reconsidered, reinforcing a narrative favored by conservatives that seeks to combat perceived liberal revisionism.

Historians and critics argue that the order may imperil the integrity of the Smithsonian, which houses 21 museums, libraries, and research centers. They contend that this push is a form of cultural censorship that threatens to silence important historical narratives regarding race and oppression. Catherine Cortez Masto, a U.S. senator and member of the Smithsonian board, referred to the order as a “weak, pathetic effort” to distract from other pressing issues, such as healthcare reforms. Critics view this as a part of Trump’s broader cultural offensive that includes efforts to dismantle diversity initiatives across government and educational institutions.

As millions of visitors flock annually to the Smithsonian's vast offerings, the implications of this directive extend far beyond museum walls, raising fundamental questions about who gets to tell America’s story and how that narrative shapes national identity. The Smithsonian, which has been a foundational element of American culture since its establishment in 1846, now finds itself at the forefront of a heated cultural and political debate, with its mission and future hanging in the balance.

For further details, you can read the full articles from Reuters, CBS News, and The Independent.