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Trump executive order on Smithsonian targets funding for ‘improper ideology’ Trump executive order on Smithsonian targets funding for ‘improper ideology’
(about 4 hours later)
JD Vance to lead plan as Trump says there’s been ‘concerted’ effort to rewrite US history with ‘distorted narrative’JD Vance to lead plan as Trump says there’s been ‘concerted’ effort to rewrite US history with ‘distorted narrative’
Donald Trump has ordered an overhaul to the Smithsonian Institution, claiming he will “eliminate improper, divisive, or anti-American ideology” from the world’s largest museum, education and research complex. Donald Trump has ordered a highly controversial reshaping of the US Smithsonian Institution, claiming he will eliminate what his administration regards as “improper, divisive, or anti-American ideology” from the world’s largest set of museums, educational and research entities grouped under one institutional umbrella.
In an executive order issued on Thursday, the president said there had been a “concerted and widespread” effort over the past decade to rewrite US history by replacing “objective facts” with a “distorted narrative driven by ideology rather than truth”. In an executive order issued late on Thursday, the president said there had been a “concerted and widespread” effort over the past decade to rewrite US history by replacing “objective facts” with a “distorted narrative driven by ideology rather than truth”. The announcement has sparked outrage from critics, accusing Trump of taking action to “remove diversity” from American history.
The order directs JD Vance, the vice-president, to “remove improper ideology” from the Smithsonian’s museums, education and research centers and the National zoo.The order directs JD Vance, the vice-president, to “remove improper ideology” from the Smithsonian’s museums, education and research centers and the National zoo.
It also directs Vance to ensure that the American Women’s History Museum does not “recognize men as women in any respect”. It also directs Vance to ensure that the American Women’s History Museum does not “recognize men as women in any respect”, as the rightwing administration continues its mission against progressive policies and culture in US society.
In language that reflected Republican talking points often heard on rightwing news channels, Trump claimed the US had witnessed an effort to “rewrite history”. Vance has been directed to work with congressional leaders in the House and Senate to appoint new citizen members to the Smithsonian Board of Regents who will be “committed to advancing the policy of this order”.
In language that reflected Republican talking points often heard on hard-right news channels, Trump claimed the US had witnessed an effort to “rewrite history”.
“Under this historical revision, our Nation’s unparalleled legacy of advancing liberty, individual rights, and human happiness is reconstructed as inherently racist, sexist, oppressive, or otherwise irredeemably flawed,” the president said.“Under this historical revision, our Nation’s unparalleled legacy of advancing liberty, individual rights, and human happiness is reconstructed as inherently racist, sexist, oppressive, or otherwise irredeemably flawed,” the president said.
Trump’s order pointed to an exhibit at the American Art Museum, titled: The Shape of Power: Stories of Race and American Sculpture.Trump’s order pointed to an exhibit at the American Art Museum, titled: The Shape of Power: Stories of Race and American Sculpture.
Trump said the exhibit “claims that the United States has ‘used race to establish and maintain systems of power, privilege, and disenfranchisement’”.Trump said the exhibit “claims that the United States has ‘used race to establish and maintain systems of power, privilege, and disenfranchisement’”.
He added that the exhibit “promotes the view that race is not a biological reality but a social construct”. Trump complained that the exhibit uses the phrase: “Race is a human invention.”He added that the exhibit “promotes the view that race is not a biological reality but a social construct”. Trump complained that the exhibit uses the phrase: “Race is a human invention.”
Trump also appeared to suggest that Confederate-era names and statues, many of which have been removed in recent years, could be reissued to parks and memorials. The order also lists depictions of “White culture” at the National Museum of African American History and Culture (NMAAHC) as examples of these “harmful and oppressive” exhibits.
Trump also appeared to suggest that Confederate-era names and statues, many of which have been removed in recent years, could be reissued to parks and memorial sites.
“The Order also directs the Secretary of the Interior restore federal parks, monuments, memorials, statues, markers, or similar properties that have been improperly removed or changed in the last five years to perpetuate a false revision of history or improperly minimize or disparage certain historical figures or events,” Trump said.“The Order also directs the Secretary of the Interior restore federal parks, monuments, memorials, statues, markers, or similar properties that have been improperly removed or changed in the last five years to perpetuate a false revision of history or improperly minimize or disparage certain historical figures or events,” Trump said.
The Smithsonian Institution was established with funds from James Smithson, a British scientist who left his estate to the US to found “at Washington, under the name of the Smithsonian Institution, an establishment for the increase and diffusion of knowledge”. The Smithsonian Institution was established in the mid-19th century with funds from James Smithson, a British scientist who left his estate to the US to found “at Washington, under the name of the Smithsonian Institution, an establishment for the increase and diffusion of knowledge”.
Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett, a Democrat representing Texas, who is Black, wrote on X, formerly Twitter, in response to the order: “First Trump removes any reference of diversity from the present — now he’s 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.”
Allison Wiltz, founder of Writers and Editors of Color, said all Trump does is cause harm. She posted: “Enslaved people built the Smithsonian. And yet, Trump doesn’t see Black history as worthy, so he’s ordering our contributions removed. You can tell a lot about someone by how they choose to use their power.”
Many others using social media have reacted with concern to the new order, with worries about the increase in racial and “eugenic” language used by the far-right, as well as by those who hold power in the US government.
Henry M Rosenberg wrote on X: “I volunteer at the @NMAAHC in the Family History Center where we help people trace their genealogy back to slavery. The rest of the museum talks about the slave trade, slavery & Civil Rights. Let that fucking piece of shit try to change that.”
This marks Trump’s latest foray into taking over art and cultural centers in the US that he considers as going against his conservative ideals. Trump recently had himself appointed as chairman of the John F Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, in Washington DC with the aim of overhauling scheduled performances and available programs, including the annual Kennedy Center Honors awards show.
Some artists and shows due for performances there found their events canceled, others, such as a planned run of the hit musical Hamilton, withdrew in protest.
The Trump administration also recently forced Columbia University, the Ivy League college in New York, to make a series of policy changes by threatening the institution with cuts in federal funding that amounts to hundreds of millions of dollars.
On Thursday, Trump also created the “DC safe and beautiful task force” by executive order. It will be chaired by Stephen Miller, the US homeland security adviser.On Thursday, Trump also created the “DC safe and beautiful task force” by executive order. It will be chaired by Stephen Miller, the US homeland security adviser.
According to the order, the taskforce will coordinate with local officials on such matters as enforcing federal immigration law, including deporting people living illegally in the city, boosting law enforcement presence, and increasing the speed and lowering the cost of processing applications to carry concealed weapons.According to the order, the taskforce will coordinate with local officials on such matters as enforcing federal immigration law, including deporting people living illegally in the city, boosting law enforcement presence, and increasing the speed and lowering the cost of processing applications to carry concealed weapons.
Reuters and the Associated Press contributed reporting