A history of Trump's crusade against 'woke' Smithsonian museum exhibits

Key Points:

• Since March 2025, President Donald Trump's administration has conducted one of the most extensive White House reviews of the Smithsonian Institution, targeting what it calls "woke" ideology in exhibits and programming.
• The review, initiated by an executive order, involved document requests, interviews, and on-site museum walkthroughs, culminating in a 162-page report accusing the Smithsonian of ideological bias and insufficiently patriotic presentations.
• The administration criticized the Smithsonian for downplaying America's Founders, patriotic themes, and national achievements, particularly highlighting concerns about the National Museum of American History's America 250 exhibit.
• Following the report's release in July 2026, Trump signed an executive order directing federal agencies to enforce reforms at the Smithsonian and ordered the installation of signs outside the museum to inform visitors of the administration's concerns.
• The Smithsonian maintains its mission to present history through scholarship and education, setting up an ongoing debate over how American history should be portrayed in federally funded cultural institutions.