WASHINGTON (AP) 鈥 President Donald Trump on Thursday revealed his intention to force changes at the Smithsonian Institution with an executive order that targets funding for programs that advance 鈥渄ivisive narratives鈥 and 鈥渋mproper ideology," the latest step in a broadside against culture he deems too liberal.
Trump claimed there has been a 鈥渃oncerted and widespread鈥 effort over the past decade to rewrite American history by replacing 鈥渙bjective facts鈥 with a 鈥渄istorted narrative driven by ideology rather than truth," adding that it casts the 鈥渇ounding principles鈥 of the United States in a 鈥渘egative light.鈥
The order he signed behind closed doors puts Vice President , who serves on the Smithsonian Institution's Board of Regents, in charge of overseeing efforts to 鈥渞emove improper ideology鈥 from all areas of the institution, including its museums, education and research centers, and the National Zoo.
It marks the Republican president's latest salvo against cultural pillars of society, such as universities and art, that he considers out of step with conservative sensibilities. Trump recently had with the aim of overhauling programming, including the annual Kennedy Center Honors awards show. The administration also recently by threatening the Ivy League school with the loss of several hundred million dollars in federal funding.
The executive order also hints at the return of statues and monuments of Confederate figures, many of which were taken down or replaced around the country after the police killing of in Minneapolis in 2020 and the rise of the Black Lives Matter movement, which is detested by Trump and other conservatives.
The order also calls for improvements to Independence Hall in Philadelphia by July 4, 2026, in time for the of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.
Trump singled out the , which opened in 2016 near the White House, the Women's History Museum, which is in development, and the American Art Museum for criticism.
鈥淢useums in our Nation's capital should be places where individuals go to learn 鈥 not to be subjected to ideological indoctrination or divisive narratives that distort our shared history,鈥 he said.
Linda St. Thomas, the Smithsonian Institutionsa国际传媒 chief spokesperson, said in an email late Thursday, 鈥淲e have no comment for now.鈥
Under Trumpsa国际传媒 order, Vance will also work with the White House budget office to make sure future funding for the Smithsonian Institution isn鈥檛 spent on programs that 鈥渄egrade shared American values, divide Americans based on race, or promote programs or ideologies inconsistent with federal law and policy.鈥 Trump also wants to ensure that the womensa国际传媒 history museum celebrates women and not 鈥渞ecognize men as women in any respect.鈥
It also requires the interior secretary to reinstate monuments, memorials, statues and similar properties that have been removed or changed since Jan. 1, 2020, to 鈥減erpetuate a false reconstruction of American history, inappropriately minimize the value of certain historical events or figures, or include any other improper partisan ideology.鈥
The Smithsonian Institution is the worldsa国际传媒 largest museum, education and research complex. It consists of 21 museums and the National Zoo. Eleven museums are located along the National Mall in Washington.
The institution was established by Congress with money from James Smithson, a British scientist who left his estate to the United States to found 鈥渁t Washington, under the name of the Smithsonian Institution, an establishment for the increase and diffusion of knowledge.鈥
