In a bold move to restore integrity to the portrayal of American history, President Trump has enacted an executive order aimed at overhauling the Smithsonian Institution.
The order, aptly named "Restoring Truth and Sanity to American History," criticizes the Biden administration for fostering an environment of "corrosive ideology" and seeks to dismantle the "divisive, race-centered" narratives that have infiltrated the institution.
According to RedState, the order states, "Once widely respected as a symbol of American excellence and a global icon of cultural achievement, the Smithsonian Institution has, in recent years, come under the influence of a divisive, race-centered ideology. This shift has promoted narratives that portray American and Western values as inherently harmful and oppressive."
The responsibility of implementing this directive falls on Vice President JD Vance, who is tasked with purging the institution of "improper ideology." Vance is a member of the Smithsonian Institutions Board of Regents.
President Trump's executive order underscores the importance of institutions like the Smithsonian in highlighting American accomplishments. The President asserts, "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."
The order also instructs Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum to review and "restore" any "public monuments, memorials, statues, markers, or similar properties" that may have been improperly removed in the past five-plus years. The White House maintains that any alterations or removals were intended "to perpetuate a false revision of history or improperly minimize or disparage certain historical figures or events."
The order has sparked controversy, with Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-TX) stating, "First, Trump removes any reference of diversity from the present now hes trying to remove it from our history. Let me be PERFECTLY clear you cannot erase our past, and you cannot stop us from fulfilling our future."
The Smithsonian Institution has faced criticism for its ideological leanings in recent years. In 2016, the institution faced backlash for excluding Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas from its National Museum of African American History and Culture. The museum later added Thomas to an exhibit titled "The Supreme Court," alongside Justice Thurgood Marshall.
Additionally, the Smithsonian Institutions American Womens History Museum features transgender women on its official website, including Sylvia Rivera, a biological male activist. The Smithsonian Museum also curated a collection of artifacts from the protest at the Capitol in January 2021, including a blue suit worn by Sen. Andy Kim (D-NJ).
The White House fact sheet on the order states, "President Trump aims to ensure that the Smithsonian is an institution that sparks childrens imagination, celebrates American history and ingenuity, serves as a symbol to the world of American greatness, and makes America proud."
The order mandates that all changes to the Smithsonian institutions be completed by July 4, 2026, marking the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. This move by President Trump underscores his commitment to preserving and celebrating American history, free from ideological bias and distortion.
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