Trump Signs Executive Order to Eliminate 'Divisive' Content from Smithsonian Museums
Trump's executive order directs agencies to remove 'anti-American' narratives from museums, overseen by Vice President JD Vance, stoking cultural debates.
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As the Trump administration tightens its grip on America’s history, which parts of the country’s heritage will be preserved remains to be seen.
Trump Orders Crackdown on 'Improper Ideology' at Smithsonian
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It's the latest in a series of executive actions by the president to roll back diversify, equity and inclusion efforts across the federal government.
Museums and parks must remove some items related to race and gender: Executive order
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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.
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The move is part of Trump's effort to shape American culture, in addition to politics.
Trump targets 'anti-American ideology' at Smithsonian museums
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This latest executive order blames the Biden Administration for advancing a "corrosive ideology" that, it states, sought to revise historical truth.
Trump executive order seeks to 'restore' American history through Smithsonian overhaul
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The order comes as the Trump administration presses forward in its war on diversity, equity and inclusion, a widely used label applied to efforts to improve workplace culture and create more opportunities for disadvantaged groups.
Trump targets 'improper ideology' at Smithsonian museums in new executive order
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Trump has talked often about his desire to make the city safer and prettier.
Trump executive order on Smithsonian targets funding for ‘improper ideology’
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Critics argue efforts like Trump's newly issued executive order are tantamount to whitewashing the sometimes-tragic history of the United States, and that all Americans deserve to know the full story.
Trump orders feds to scour monuments, memorials for DEI language he says disparages US
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The order also takes issue with the National Museum of African American History and Culture, which previously suggested that "hard work," "individualism," and "the nuclear family" are aspects of "White culture."
Trump pushes to ‘restore truth in American History,' end DEI at Smithsonian
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The executive order is part of a broader effort by the Trump administration to roll back Biden-era initiatives that were deemed “woke” or that promoted diversity, equity and inclusion.
Trump order targets ‘divisive narratives’ in Smithsonian museums
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Trump's executive order specifically calls out the National Museum of African American History and Culture, as well as the in-development Women's History Museum, as examples of institutions promoting what it describes as "divisive narratives."
Trump tasks JD Vance with rooting out 'distorted' narratives at Smithsonian
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Trump executive order on Smithsonian targets funding for programs with 'improper ideology'
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Summary
President Trump signed an executive order entitled 'Restoring Truth and Sanity to American History,' instructing federal agencies, including the Smithsonian, to remove content deemed 'divisive' or 'anti-American.' The order emphasizes the return of certain historical monuments and criticizes existing museum exhibits for promoting what it calls race-centered ideologies. Vice President JD Vance is tasked with ensuring compliance within the Smithsonian Institution and overseeing any restorations. This move aligns with broader efforts to reevaluate cultural narratives within American institutions, particularly following incidents prompting nationwide protests for racial justice.
Perspectives
Trump's executive order aims to reshape the Smithsonian Institution by eliminating what he considers 'divisive narratives' and 'improper ideology' from its exhibits and programs.
The order targets institutions that allegedly promote a negative view of American history and aims to restore monuments and memorials that were altered or removed in recent years.
Critics argue that this move could erase important discussions about race, gender, and history, while supporters claim it restores an accurate portrayal of American values.
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