Former President Barack Obama's legacy faces a new challenge as President Donald Trump takes aim at one of his signature achievements in Washington D.C.
According to Newsweek, Trump's executive order titled "Restoring Truth and Sanity to American History" targets multiple museums, including the National Museum of African American History and Culture (NMAAHC), which Obama proudly opened during his second term in office.
The order has sparked widespread criticism, particularly from museum volunteers and social media users who view it as an attempt to rewrite African American history. The NMAAHC, located on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., houses over 40,000 artifacts documenting African American experiences, including items related to slavery, segregation, and the civil rights movement.
In the executive order, Trump expressed concerns about what he perceives as efforts to distort American history. The administration specifically criticized the NMAAHC for promoting what it calls "divisive narratives."
The order extends beyond the African American museum, also targeting the Women's History Museum currently under development. This move follows a pattern of recent cultural institution changes under Trump's presidency.
Museum volunteers have publicly expressed their opposition to the order. Henry M. Rosenberg, a volunteer at the NMAAHC's Family History Center, shared his strong disapproval on the social media platform X.
The executive order represents the latest in a series of modifications to cultural institutions under Trump's administration. In recent weeks, the president installed himself as chair of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.
Trump has indicated his intention to oversee programming at the Kennedy Center, announcing plans to end events featuring drag performers. The administration also recently pressured Columbia University to implement policy changes to maintain funding.
These actions have generated significant debate about presidential influence over cultural institutions and historical narratives.
Trump's executive order outlines specific directives for Vice President JD Vance and Interior Secretary Doug Burgum. The president stated:
Museums in our Nation's capital should be places where individuals go to learn—not to be subjected to ideological indoctrination or divisive narratives that distort our shared history. To advance this policy, we will restore the Smithsonian Institution to its rightful place as a symbol of inspiration and American greatness.
The NMAAHC responded through its mission statement:
The museum shares the unvarnished truth of African American history and culture. We connect stories, scholarship, art, and artifacts from the past and present to illuminate the contributions, struggles, and triumphs that have shaped our nation. We forge new and compelling avenues for audiences to experience the arc of living history.
President Trump's executive order targets multiple Smithsonian institutions, with particular focus on the National Museum of African American History and Culture established during Obama's presidency in 2016. The directive aims to eliminate what the administration describes as "improper ideology" across all branches of the Smithsonian Institution.
The order directs Vice President JD Vance and Interior Secretary Doug Burgum to restore federal parks, monuments, memorials, and statues that have undergone changes in the past five years. Additionally, agencies must complete restorations and upgrades to Independence Hall ahead of the United States' 250th anniversary in 2026, marking a significant shift in how American history will be presented in national institutions.
