The Trump Administration Advocates Changes at the Smithsonian

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October 6, 2025 by Kendra Abbott

On August 12, 2025, the White House sent a letter to the Smithsonian Institution stating that it would be “leading a comprehensive internal review of selected Smithsonian museums and exhibitions.”¹ This review aims to ensure alignment with President Donald Trump’s vision to “celebrate American exceptionalism, remove divisive or partisan narratives, and restore confidence in our shared cultural institutions.”²

The Smithsonian, which includes 21 museums and 14 education and research centers, is the largest museum and research complex in the world.³ Centered in Washington, D.C., Smithsonian facilities attract millions of visitors each year to learn about American history, natural sciences, technology, art, and culture. The Institution welcomes visitors as it seeks to execute its stated mission: “The increase and diffusion of knowledge.”

The Smithsonian receives significant federal funding, with approximately 62% of its budget coming from an annual congressional appropriation and federal grants and contracts. Yet, it operates outside of the federal government as an independent body.⁴ It is governed by a bipartisan Board of Regents whose 17 members include the sitting chief justice of the Supreme Court and the vice president of the United States. Six members of Congress (three senators and three representatives, which presently include both Democrats and Republicans) also serve on the Board. The other nine regents are members of the general public. The regents work together to govern and oversee the Smithsonian and appoint a secretary to manage it.⁵

The August 12 letter is in accordance with President Trump’s March 27 executive order titled “Restoring Truth and Sanity to American History.” This executive order expresses concern about efforts to rewrite American history by “replacing objective facts with a distorted narrative driven by ideology rather than truth” and by painting America’s founding in a negative light. The order questions the Smithsonian’s approach to teaching American history and criticizes the Institution for coming “under the influence of a divisive, race-centered ideology” and for promoting narratives “that portray American and Western values as inherently harmful and oppressive.”⁶

In response to the Trump administration’s letter, Smithsonian Secretary Lonnie Bunch III reasserted his organization’s independence and control over museum content. Bunch said that the Smithsonian would do an internal review of its materials and programming and report those findings to the White House. However, White House official Lindsey Halligan argued that the Smithsonian “cannot credibly audit itself,” noting: “By definition, an ‘audit’ must be neutral and objective.”⁷

It is not yet clear what this demand from the Trump administration will mean on the ground at Smithsonian facilities. Prior to the release of the August 12 letter, the National Museum of American History altered references to President Trump’s two impeachments during his first term in an exhibit titled “The American Presidency: A Glorious Burden.” The exhibit includes information on the impeachments of Presidents Andrew Jackson and Bill Clinton and details of the Watergate scandal and President Richard Nixon’s resignation. In a statement to NPR, the Smithsonian said it chose to restore the exhibit back to its 2008 appearance and that the information about President Trump’s 2019 and 2021 impeachments were only a temporary addition pending a more extensive exhibit update.⁸ The museum has since restored references to the impeachments, although in a less prominent location.

Proponents of the White House’s actions at Smithsonian facilities believe that cultural institutions, such as museums, that are mostly paid for by taxpayers should largely represent the country’s progress, innovations, and achievements. In a Truth Social post, President Trump commented, “The Smithsonian is OUT OF CONTROL, where everything discussed is how horrible our Country is, how bad Slavery was, and how unaccomplished the downtrodden have been—Nothing about Success, nothing about Brightness, nothing about the Future.”⁹ In the March 27 executive order, he noted, “It is the policy of my Administration to restore Federal sites dedicated to history, including parks and museums, to solemn and uplifting public monuments that remind Americans of our extraordinary heritage, consistent progress toward becoming a more perfect Union, and unmatched record of advancing liberty, prosperity, and human flourishing.” The 1776 Project, a conservative political action committee that focuses on bias in education, also argues that focusing on identity, such as race and gender, in education spaces is divisive and anti-American.¹⁰ Proponents of intervention in museums agree and contend that Smithsonian museums should not focus on these topics.

Opponents, meanwhile, characterize the administration’s actions as altering museum content for political gain, which they argue is wrong from either right or left. They argue that museums are educational facilities that should be allowed to operate independently and outside of the political sphere. The American Historical Association (AHA), a consortium of over 10,000 historians, released a statement in support of the museum historians and curators who design the exhibits, noting: “Political interference into professional curatorial practices and museum … content places at risk the integrity and accuracy of historical interpretation and stands to erode public trust in our shared institutions.”¹¹ As the AHA and other critics argue, interference in museum content and programming undermines the Smithsonian’s autonomy and status as a nonpartisan educational institution.

Amy Sherald, the artist who painted the official portrait of former First Lady Michelle Obama, withdrew her upcoming fall show at the National Portrait Gallery after she was informed that “internal concerns had been raised” about including one of her works depicting a transgender Statue of Liberty, leading to discussions about removing the work from the exhibition or contextualizing it with a video.¹² Her exhibition, “American Sublime,” which included portraits of many Black and LGBTQ+ individuals, was set to open at the National Portrait Gallery in September.

Discussion Questions

How should museums decide what information to highlight in exhibits?
Should the president have a role in determining what federally funded museums display and educate the public about? Why or why not?
Should federally funded museums be used to inspire patriotism? Why or why not? And if so, how should they address difficult or shameful aspects of U.S. history?
Should museums avoid displaying information about race and identity to avoid pushback from people who believe these topics are divisive? Why or why not?

As always, we encourage you to join the discussion with your comments or questions below.

Sources

Featured Image: REUTERS/Annabelle Gordon

[1] The White House: https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefings-statements/2025/08/letter-to-the-smithsonian-internal-review-of-smithsonian-exhibitions-and-materials/

[2] The White House: https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefings-statements/2025/08/letter-to-the-smithsonian-internal-review-of-smithsonian-exhibitions-and-materials/

[3] Smithsonian Institution: https://www.si.edu/about

[4] Smithsonian Institution: https://www.si.edu/newsdesk/factsheets/facts-about-smithsonian-institution-short; New York Times: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/09/03/arts/design/smithsonian-bunch-trump.html

[5] Smithsonian Institution: https://www.si.edu/newsdesk/releases/smithsonian-statement

[6] The White House: https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/03/restoring-truth-and-sanity-to-american-history/

[7] ABC News: https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/smithsonian-secretary-reaffirms-institutions-independence-response-white-houses/story?id=125296667

[8] NPR: https://www.npr.org/2025/08/01/g-s1-80602/smithsonian-impeachment-trump

[9] Reuters: https://www.reuters.com/world/us/trump-targets-smithsonian-again-says-it-focuses-too-much-how-bad-slavery-was-2025-08-20/

[10] The White House: https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/03/restoring-truth-and-sanity-to-american-history/; 1776 Project PAC: https://1776projectpac.com/priorities/

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