President Donald Trump has enacted a new executive order.
According to the Daily Caller, the directive focuses on reinstating monuments taken down during the presidency of Joe Biden and revamping national narratives presented in museums and parks.
On Thursday, President Trump issued instructions to restore all historical markers and statues dismantled after January 1, 2020. This move is said to correct a perceived erosion of national values and historical integrity.
The Confederate Reconciliation Monument at Arlington National Cemetery, which was removed in 2023, is particularly mentioned for reinstatement. The order articulated a broader ambition to restore a more positive portrayal of the U.S. heritage in federally managed locales, including battlefields and presidential sites.
This executive initiative extends to the National Museum of African American History and Culture and the forthcoming American Women’s History Museum, criticizing their current and planned exhibits. Trump's administration accuses these institutions of promoting divisive ideologies. Vice President JD Vance has the responsibility of reviewing all diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives at the Smithsonian Institution, targeting changes made in recent years.
The new policy prohibits the use of taxpayer funds for exhibits that, according to the administration, undermine or distort the nation's values or contravene federal laws regarding race-based narratives. It assigns senior domestic aides Vince Haley and Lindsey Halligan the task of aligning congressional appropriations with this fresh directive.
President Trump has commented on this issue in the past. In a tweet dated June 23, 2020, he expressed strong opposition to the vandalism or destruction of federal properties.
The executive order describes this initiative as a reversal of a decade-long distortion of American history, which has been recast as inherently fraught with racism and sexism. "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," the order states.
Reactions to Trump's order have been varied, with supporters applauding the move as a restoration of national pride, while critics argue it could suppress a comprehensive understanding of American history.
Citizens have also been invited to engage more directly in the oversight of national narratives through appointments to the Smithsonian’s Board of Regents, as stated in the executive order. The policy also criticizes cultural interpretations within federal exhibits, particularly those at the National Museum of African American History and Culture, for purportedly associating attributes such as individualism and the nuclear family with "white culture."
The recent executive order also applies scrutiny to the way history and culture are presented in key national institutions. Museums are directed to be venues of learning rather than places where divisive narratives thrive.
The forthcoming American Women’s History Museum has drawn particular criticism from the administration for its plans to engage in what the order refers to as recognizing "men as women," implying a political motive behind historical narration. Overall, the Trump administration's directive aims to present an interpretation of U.S. history that emphasizes unity and patriotism over discord and division.
In essence, the initiative seeks to redefine the narrative frameworks at nationally significant sites and museums. It asserts a vision of American history that champions the notion of progress towards a 'more perfect union,' counteracting what it marks as a skewed portrayal driven by recent cultural and academic trends.
With a myriad of national monuments and museums set to be impacted, the full implementation of this order will likely unfold over the coming years. It sets the stage for a broad recalibration of how history is remembered and taught in the United States. The administration believes this corrective measure will foster a more inclusive appreciation for the country's heritage, reinstating a narrative that garners widespread national respect and recognition.
