President Trump on Friday directed his administration to put up signs outside the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History, pointing visitors to information the White House says offers a more “accurate” account of the country’s past.
The executive order calls on the National Park Service, which oversees the sidewalks surrounding the museum, to install signage alerting visitors to a White House report issued on July 4 that sharply criticized how the Smithsonian presents American history.
Trump also ordered officials to develop a temporary exhibit aimed at addressing historical material his administration argues is misleading or incorrect.
The action comes after Trump’s Domestic Policy Council released a report accusing the Smithsonian and the National Museum of American History of falling short in presenting the nation’s story “in a way that is inspiring, unifying, and worthy of our great republic.”
The Smithsonian is not controlled by the executive branch, meaning Trump does not have the authority to directly dismiss museum leaders or single-handedly alter its exhibitions.
As a result, the order focuses on federal land outside the museum that is under the jurisdiction of the National Park Service.
Anthea M. Hartig, director of the National Museum of American History, defended the institution in congressional testimony this week.
“As we continue to fact check the report, we unwaveringly attest that it does not fairly or accurately characterize the full body of work at the museum,” Hartig told lawmakers.
“There is always room for improvement. But I also know the beauty and the inspiration and the expertise that lies in our collections, our exhibits, and our programming.”
Friday’s order builds on Trump’s broader effort to reshape the Smithsonian’s exhibits.
In March, Trump signed an executive order directing the Smithsonian’s Board of Regents to eliminate what the administration described as “improper, divisive or anti-American ideology” from the institution’s museums.
The White House later criticized the National Museum of American History’s “Entertainment Nation” exhibit, arguing displays about American pop culture framed the nation’s history through an ideological lens rather than celebrating its achievements.
White House official Lindsey Halligan previously told Fox News Digital that “American taxpayers should not be funding institutions that undermine our country or promote one-sided, divisive political narratives.”
At the time, the Smithsonian said it was conducting a review of museum content and remained committed to “continuous and rigorous scholarship and research and unbiased presentation of facts and history.”
The Smithsonian is overseen by a Board of Regents that includes Vice President JD Vance, Chief Justice John Roberts, members of Congress and citizen regents.
The institution receives roughly two-thirds of its approximately $1 billion annual budget through federal appropriations.
