Critics argue efforts like Trump's newly issued executive order are tantamount to whitewashing the sometimes-tragic history of the United States, and that all Americans deserve to know the full story. Trump's order mirrors similar efforts in Florida, Texas and other states to alter how American history is taught. In a Thursday executive order titled "restoring truth and sanity to American history," issued Thursday, Trump objected to what he called a concerted effort to downplay American successes, and to cast historical milestones and the nation's founding principles "in a negative light. He directed the U.S. Department of the Interior and other agencies to review Smithsonian exhibits and national park service sites for what he believes are anti-American displays and sentiment.

The order cites an exhibit at the American Art Museum titled “Stories of Race and American Sculpture” and references at the National Museum of African American History and Culture that assert “hard work,” “individualism,” and “the nuclear family” are parts of “white culture.” “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,” the order states. The order directs Vice President Vance to lead efforts to eliminate content from Smithsonian museums that do not align with the administration’s vision to “remind Americans of our extraordinary heritage.”

President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Thursday aimed at restoring what he calls "truth and sanity" in American history by reforming the Smithsonian Institution, protecting national monuments, and countering divisive ideology in public institutions. Trump's order directs Vice President Vance to work on eliminating "improper, divisive, or anti-American ideology" from Smithsonian museums, research centers, as well as the National Zoo. It also pushes Congress to ensure taxpayer dollars do not fund exhibits or programs that "degrade shared American values" or promote ideologies which divide Americans by race.