ALBAWABA - U.S. President Donald Trump has signed an executive order requiring warning signs to be posted outside the National Museum of American History in Washington, D.C. He says some of its exhibits provide a misleading portrayal of the nation's past.
The directive also mandates temporary signs to be posted at the museum’s gates, telling visitors that the exhibits should be altered to include what the administration calls a more accurate view of American history.
The decision comes after Republican lawmakers criticized the museum’s historical presentations during a recent congressional session by museum director Anthea Hartig.
The White House said the decision came after a report accused the Smithsonian Institution, which operates the museum, of utilizing American history to further themes of social justice and progressive ideology rather than offering a balanced historical narrative.
The report also says the museum fails to properly appreciate Christianity’s role in the creation of the United States and that white Christian men are often portrayed negatively as emblems of oppressive power structures.
The presidential order is the latest move in Trump’s overall plan to transform government cultural institutions since returning to office in 2025. His administration has repeatedly targeted what it calls "woke" ideology in museums and educational organizations.
Those worries have been echoed by several Republican lawmakers, including one representative who recently accused the museum of progressive political action. Trump has previously called for investigations of museums for how they handle topics like slavery and race, and in May 2025 ousted the director of the National Portrait Gallery over similar allegations.
