President Donald J. Trump signed an executive order Thursday titled “Restoring Truth and Sanity to American History,” directing federal agencies to remove what the order calls “divisive, ideological narratives” from historical institutions and monuments and reaffirm a “solemn and uplifting” vision of America’s past.
The executive order, which spans federal historical sites, museums, and monuments, is aimed at countering what Trump described as a “revisionist movement” that seeks to “undermine the remarkable achievements of the United States” and cast its founding ideals in a negative light.
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“For far too long, radical ideologies have distorted our national memory, portraying our history as something to be ashamed of rather than proud of,” Trump wrote in the order. “This administration will restore our historical institutions to reflect the greatness of the American story.”
The order directly criticizes the Smithsonian Institution, accusing it of promoting a race-centered, ideologically driven agenda. It calls out current and planned exhibits at institutions such as the Smithsonian American Art Museum, the National Museum of African American History and Culture, and the forthcoming American Women’s History Museum for promoting what the administration views as “divisive” or “factually inaccurate” content.
Examples cited in the order include exhibits describing hard work and the nuclear family as elements of “white culture,” and displays that link American sculpture to “scientific racism.”
Vice President JD Vance, in consultation with senior White House aides including Lindsey Halligan, is tasked with implementing the order through his seat on the Smithsonian Board of Regents, with the goal of removing “improper ideology” from exhibits and ensuring future federal funding prohibits programming that “degrades shared American values.”
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The order further stipulates that the American Women’s History Museum must not recognize men as women in any respect, positioning the directive as a pushback against gender identity inclusion in federal institutions.
The order also mandates a broad review of national monuments, memorials, and statues under the jurisdiction of the Department of the Interior, particularly those that may have been altered or removed since 2020. The Secretary of the Interior is instructed to restore such landmarks if they were changed to “perpetuate a false reconstruction of American history.”
As part of the directive, Independence National Historical Park in Philadelphia is slated for infrastructure improvements, to be completed by July 4, 2026, in time for the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.
The Office of Management and Budget is ordered to work with Congress to ensure that future appropriations to federal historical institutions like the Smithsonian prohibit funding for exhibits or programs that “divide Americans based on race” or conflict with federal law.
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The order also authorizes the Vice President to consult with Congressional leadership to recommend citizen appointees to the Smithsonian Board of Regents who are aligned with the goals of the executive action.
The executive order is expected to spark intense debate in Congress and among cultural institutions. Supporters say the move is a necessary correction to politically motivated reinterpretations of American history, while critics are likely to frame the order as an attempt to suppress academic and cultural freedom.
Trump’s directive follows his broader push to reshape federal institutions to reflect his administration’s philosophy of “patriotic education,” a theme he previously emphasized during his first term.
As the nation approaches the 250th anniversary of its founding, the White House made clear that it sees this as an opportunity to rekindle national pride. “Museums in our Nation’s capital should be places where individuals go to learn — not to be subjected to ideological indoctrination,” the order states.
The full implementation of the executive order will depend on agency responses, Congressional cooperation, and the availability of funding — all of which are likely to be contested in the months ahead.
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