Talk about fireworks before the Fourth of July.
With the 250th anniversary of America’s founding just around the corner, the Trump administration has set its sights on one of the country’s most prestigious cultural institutions — the Smithsonian. In a move that’s already sparking intense debate, the administration is ordering a full-scale review of key national museums, insisting that their exhibits reflect a unified, uplifting, and — in the president’s words — “historically accurate” version of the American story.
The directive is part of President Donald Trump’s “Restoring Truth and Sanity to American History” executive order. It doesn’t mince words. The Smithsonian, long seen as a neutral guardian of national heritage, is now being told to root out what the administration calls “one-sided, divisive political narratives” — and fast.
Eight major Smithsonian museums have been tapped in the review’s first phase. These include the National Museum of American History, the National Museum of Natural History, the African American History and Culture Museum, the National Museum of the American Indian, the Air and Space Museum, and several others. All are expected to undergo what officials describe as a “respectful but firm” evaluation.
And they’re on the clock.
The Smithsonian has 120 days to fully comply with the administration’s requests — but some deadlines hit in just 30 days. By then, museums must submit current exhibition descriptions, draft plans for future exhibits, all materials related to America 250 programming, and the internal guidelines used to shape how exhibits are made.
NEW: President Trump’s administration has ordered a sweeping review of the Smithsonian museums to ensure their exhibitions laud American exceptionalism and remove divisive race-baiting or partisan narratives. pic.twitter.com/ZxMvuRI4S4
— Election Wizard (@ElectionWiz) August 13, 2025
That’s just the beginning.
Staff are being interviewed. Internal governance documents and grant-related materials are being reviewed. Even digital files of traveling exhibitions are under the microscope. There will also be on-site visits from federal observers to monitor how things are presented on the museum floor.
One museum placard already drew attention. A sign at the National Museum of American History described circus acts from the 1920s as an expression of “the colonial impulse to claim dominion over the world.” That, according to Trump administration officials, is exactly the type of narrative they want removed — language they see as unnecessarily ideological and disconnected from the broader American story.
The administration is clear about what it wants instead.
Officials say this is about preserving the Smithsonian’s original mission — telling the story of America’s people, principles, and progress. They argue the shift is meant to rebuild trust, present unifying narratives, and keep politics out of museums.
But not everyone sees it that way.
The last time we talked about reviewing historical exhibits was when liberal mobs tore down historical statues across the country.
The people who are the angriest about Trump’s Smithsonian Museum review are the people who cheered that on. Spare me your outrage. pic.twitter.com/cfPz4Vfd2a
— Scott Jennings (@ScottJenningsKY) August 13, 2025
Critics argue this could lead to censorship or whitewashing of American history. Some museum insiders fear the loss of academic independence. And although the administration insists this isn’t about daily operations, the depth of the oversight — including exhibition content, staffing, and partnerships — is raising questions about how much control will ultimately be exerted from Washington.
Still, the administration insists this is a collaborative effort, not a crackdown. They describe it as an opportunity to reframe the Smithsonian as a beacon of American excellence — one that reflects unity, pride, and the strength of the national identity in the lead-up to the country’s 250th birthday.
Whether the public sees this as a needed correction or political interference? That may depend on what changes appear in those museum halls in the months ahead.
