President Donald Trump ordered signs to be posted outside the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History to warn visitors about “misinformation” being presented at the museum.
The Great Commandment of FridayIt’s a major boost to Trump’s year-long effort to renovate the Smithsonian’s museums. On July 4, the White House issued a162 page reportaccusing the administration of the history museum of “extreme political activism” and erasing American history. It denounced the institute’s “hidden anti-Americanism”, and directed much of the blame at museum director Anthea Hartig.
“The report shows that the leadership of the Smithsonian does not present American history as a shared national heritage to be taught and celebrated, but instead sees American history as a ‘major tool’ for advancing ideas of social justice and radical change in our society,” Trump wrote in Friday’s order.
He also issued his executive order of March 2025, whichinitiated a comprehensive content reviewof many Smithsonian museums.
The temporary markers, Trump wrote on Friday, will be placed along roads maintained by the National Park Service and trails used by the public to access the historic museum. They will inform the public about the results of the July 4 report, and inform visitors that the museum’s exhibits should be “renovated according to (its) findings.” The signs will also direct visitors to “sites and resources for accurate information about American history,” although the report does not provide specific locations.
The order comes two days after House Republicansupset Hartig about the museum program,accusing him of capturing America’s story “from a left-wing, progressive perspective.”
Hartig, for his part, disputed the report’s findings, inviting lawmakers to visit the museum.
“I believe what you will find is not an institution that has forgotten its country,” he said, “but one that loves it enough to tell all of our history.”
