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Rewriting History? Trump Order Hits Museums
By Darius Spearman (africanelements)
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A recent executive order from President Trump aims to dramatically reshape how American history and culture are presented in federal institutions. Titled *Restoring Truth and Sanity to American History*, the order takes direct aim at the Smithsonian Institution and other cultural sites. It demands the removal of exhibits and programs the administration sees as promoting “divisive racial and gender ideologies” (LATimes; WhiteHouse.gov). For Black communities, this raises serious questions about whose history gets told and whose gets silenced.
The order doesn’t just stop at museum content; it also mandates the restoration of Confederate monuments removed in recent years and restricts future funding for programs discussing topics like slavery or Black cultural achievements if they are deemed “divisive.” This move seems part of a larger pattern to control cultural narratives across the board. Indeed, it represents a significant shift in how federal resources might be used to interpret our shared past and present.
The Smithsonian Purge: Trump Smithsonian Order in Action
The executive order puts the vast network of Smithsonian museums directly in the crosshairs. It explicitly demands the elimination of exhibits and programs viewed by the administration as pushing divisive ideas about race and gender (LATimes; WhiteHouse.gov). Federal funding is threatened for any content perceived this way. This directive essentially tasks Vice President JD Vance, who sits on the Smithsonian Board of Regents, with overseeing a purge of what the order calls “improper ideology.” This affects all 19 Smithsonian museums and even the National Zoo (LATimes; WhiteHouse.gov; Fox5 DC).
Specific targets mentioned include the exhibit *The Shape of Power: Stories of Race and American Sculpture*. The administration criticizes it for allegedly framing race as a social construct (LATimes; ABC News; WhiteHouse.gov). Plans for the American Women’s History Museum to acknowledge transgender athletes in women’s sports are also blocked. The order claims such acknowledgment “celebrates the exploits of male athletes in women’s sports,” reflecting a specific view on gender identity (LATimes; ABC News; WhiteHouse.gov). Consequently, this approach directly impacts how race, power, and identity are explored in these vital public spaces.
Executive Order’s Reach within the Smithsonian
Confederate Monument Restoration: Rewriting the Landscape
Beyond the museum walls, the executive order takes a controversial step regarding public monuments. It mandates the restoration of Confederate statues and other controversial monuments removed since 2020 (LATimes; Fox5 DC). The administration frames the removal of these statues, many taken down following the nationwide protests after George Floyd’s murder, as a “false revision of history.” This action directly counters the calls from many communities, particularly Black communities, who saw these monuments as symbols of oppression and demanded their removal.
The order claims that removing these statues “minimize[s] the value of certain historical events or figures” (LATimes; Fox5 DC). Interior Secretary Doug Burgum is now tasked with reviewing these removals. He will focus on reinstating monuments tied to historical figures deemed “inappropriately minimized” (LATimes; Fox5 DC). Therefore, this directive actively seeks to reverse decisions made by local communities and governments regarding symbols in public spaces.
Smithsonian Funding Race and Gender Ideology Restrictions
The executive order uses the power of the purse to enforce its vision. It restricts future Smithsonian funding for any programs the administration considers divisive or promoting unwelcome ideologies (LATimes; ABC News; WhiteHouse.gov). This specifically targets exhibitions dealing with topics like slavery or Black cultural achievements if they are judged to “divide Americans by race.” The order links funding to compliance with what it deems acceptable historical narratives, potentially chilling discussions about systemic issues.
Critiques mentioned in the order include targeting the National Museum of African American History and Culture (NMAAHC). It criticizes the museum for content linking concepts like “hard work” and “individualism” to “white culture” (ABC News; WhiteHouse.gov). Furthermore, the order explicitly blocks the recognition of transgender women in museum content. It mandates the American Women’s History Museum to exclude them from narratives about women’s history (ABC News; WhiteHouse.gov). This funding threat thus imposes narrow definitions of race, gender, and history onto these institutions.
Defining “Discriminatory Equity Ideology”
The administration defines this concept, targeted by executive orders, as problematic because it involves treating individuals as members of groups (like race) instead of purely as individuals.
This framing explicitly targets discussions about systemic racism or privilege, labeling them as inherently “divisive” and a form of group-based discrimination. Consequently, educational content acknowledging race-based disparities is deemed unacceptable under this definition.
Gender Ideology Museums & Attempts to Rewrite History
This executive order doesn’t exist in a vacuum. It aligns with broader efforts by the Trump administration to reshape cultural institutions and control narratives around identity (LATimes; Fox5 DC). Earlier actions include banning Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives at the Smithsonian, leading to the closure of diversity-focused offices (LATimes; Fox5 DC). Moves like defunding Columbia University and replacing board members at the John F. Kennedy Center, with Trump positioning himself as chairman, also fit this pattern (LATimes; Fox5 DC).
The administration defines “gender ideology” as rejecting biological sex for self-identified gender, framing it as dangerous (Inside Higher Ed; WhiteHouse.gov). The goal of “Restoring Truth and Sanity” is presented as countering this perceived erasure of biological sex, insisting federal policies reflect “biological reality” (WhiteHouse.gov). Additionally, the order demands retraining for park rangers, condemning programs like the one at Independence National Historical Park that discussed institutional racism, labeling it divisive (WhiteHouse.gov; Fox5 DC). These actions collectively attempt to enforce a specific, narrow view of American history and identity through federal power.
Defining “Gender Ideology”
According to the administration’s executive orders, “gender ideology” is defined as the rejection of biological sex in favor of an individual’s self-assessed gender identity.
This viewpoint is framed as a threat to women’s safety and objective truth. It is explicitly linked to denying biological sex, with claims that it improperly allows access to single-sex spaces.
It’s important to note that the information available focuses heavily on the administration’s perspective and actions. The provided sources detail the executive order’s mandates and rationale (Inside Higher Ed; Chalkbeat; WhiteHouse.gov). However, they offer limited insight into counterarguments, expert critiques, or the specific impacts on preserving Black history and culture beyond the NMAAHC criticism mentioned. Many questions remain about how these directives will be implemented and resisted.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Darius Spearman has been a professor of Black Studies at San Diego City College since 2007. He is the author of several books, including Between The Color Lines: A History of African Americans on the California Frontier Through 1890. You can visit Darius online at africanelements.org.
