7:35The Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of American History is visible from the Washington Monument on June 3, 2025, in Washington, DC. (Photo by Kevin Carter/Getty Images)Kevin Carter/Getty Images
The White House intends to carry out an extensive evaluation of the Smithsonian Institution’s museum displays, resources, and operations in preparation for America’s 250th anniversary next year to ensure the museums reflect President Donald Trump’s perspective on American history, a White House official confirmed to ABC News.
In a correspondence addressed to Lonnie Bunch, the secretary of the Smithsonian Institution, the White House expresses its desire to ensure that the museums “embody the unity, advancement, and lasting principles that characterize the American narrative.”
The White House noted that in line with a March executive order, “Restoring Truth and Sanity to American History,” officials will undertake a “thorough internal review of selected Smithsonian museums and exhibitions. This initiative seeks to ensure compliance with the President’s mandate to honor American exceptionalism, eliminate divisive or partisan narratives, and restore trust in our shared cultural institutions.”
The Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of American History is visible from the Washington Monument on June 3, 2025, in Washington, DC. (Photo by Kevin Carter/Getty Images)Kevin Carter/Getty Images
This review will concentrate on several important aspects, including evaluating public-facing materials, such as exhibition texts, websites, and social media “to analyze tone, historical context, and alignment with American values.”
Furthermore, the review will assess the curatorial approach, current and upcoming exhibitions, the utilization of existing materials and collections, and the establishment of “consistent curatorial guidelines that align with the Smithsonian’s foundational mission.”
Initially, the review will concentrate on eight Smithsonian museums:
- The National Museum of American History
- The National Museum of Natural History
- The National Museum of African American History and Culture
- The National Museum of the American Indian
- The National Air and Space Museum
- The Smithsonian American Art Museum
- The National Portrait Gallery
- The Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden
In a statement, the Smithsonian Institution remarked: “The Smithsonian’s efforts are rooted in a profound commitment to academic excellence, thorough research, and the precise, factual representation of history. We are reviewing the letter with this commitment in mind and will continue to engage constructively with the White House, Congress, and our governing Board of Regents.”
ABC News’ Deena Zaru contributed to this report.
Sourse: abcnews.go.com
