On July 24, 2026, President Donald Trump ordered the installation of warning signs outside the Smithsonian Institution's National Museum of American History in Washington, D.C. The signs are intended to inform visitors about what Trump described as 'inaccurate information' presented in the museum. This directive follows a White House report released on July 4, which claimed that the museum cannot be trusted to present America's story honestly.
Trump's executive order aims to enforce changes at the Smithsonian, which he believes presents American history in a way that promotes social justice and a radical transformation of society. He instructed Interior Secretary Doug Burgum to collaborate with the National Park Service to install temporary signage along public access routes to the museum. The signs will reference the July 4 report and Trump's executive order from March 2025, which sought to target federal funding for programs he deemed divisive.
In response, Smithsonian Secretary Lonnie Bunch defended the institution's commitment to accuracy and scholarship, stating that the White House's characterization of the museum's work is unfair. Bunch emphasized the Smithsonian's dedication to presenting a comprehensive narrative of American history.