Trump orders warning signs outside Smithsonian amid broader review

President Trump issued an executive order directing installation of temporary warning signs outside the Smithsonian National Museum of American History to flag information he deems inaccurate and steer visitors toward sources of “accurate information.” The order cites a White House report titled Saving America’s Story, which accuses Smithsonian leadership of pursuing an ideological narrative that distorts American history, and it notes a March 2025 executive order broadening a content-review of Smithsonian programming. Critics including Anthea Hartig say the museum remains committed to scholarly rigor and that history should inspire rather than polarize. Because the Smithsonian operates outside the executive branch, the signs would be placed on sidewalks maintained by the National Park Service, not inside exhibits, and would direct visitors to other information sources. Lawmakers have called for oversight of exhibits and funding as part of a broader dispute over political interference in cultural institutions. The Smithsonian has not issued formal comments on the order.