Trump orders signs outside history museum, escalating Smithsonian feud
President Donald Trump ordered the Interior Department to post signs outside the Smithsonian National Museum of American History accusing it of inaccuracy. The move intensifies clashes over historical interpretation.
Donald Trump on Friday directed the Interior Department to display signs in front of the Smithsonian National Museum of American History that criticize the institution for inaccuracy. The order escalates Trump's attacks on the Smithsonian, which he and his allies accuse of politicizing history by focusing too much on injustices rather than triumphant moments like the signing of the Declaration of Independence.
The directive instructs Interior Secretary Doug Burgum to work with the National Park Service and White House domestic policy aide Vince Haley to develop temporary signs for sidewalks and walkways maintained by the National Park Service leading to the museum. The White House did not immediately respond to requests for details on the signs' content.
The order states that the signs "shall notify visitors that the museum exhibits should be renovated consistent with the findings in the report" and should direct the public to other sources of historical information. Additionally, the same group must create signs criticizing the museum for insufficiently commemorating the Declaration of Independence during its 250th anniversary.
The American Historical Association, representing professional historians, recently praised the Smithsonian's "commitment to scholarship and accuracy," warning that political interference undermines historical interpretation and public trust.
Museum Director Anthea Hartig defended the institution's work during congressional hearings earlier this month. "We honor the declaration, the revolution, the constitution, our national symbols," she said, "and we tell the truth about the times the country fell short of its own founding ideals." She emphasized that telling the full story shows respect for Americans and a commitment to a more perfect union.
The White House Domestic Policy Council's report "Saving America's Story" accused the museum of "ideological capture," claiming it no longer treats American history as a shared inheritance but as a political tool to divide.
