Trump escalates Smithsonian attack with order for signs outside history museum

Lead

President Donald Trump has ordered signs to be placed outside the Smithsonian National Museum of American History, to caution visitors about exhibits his administration views as "inaccurate," as reported by the BBC, The Guardian, and the South China Morning Post. The order directs the interior department to issue the warnings and to direct people to "accurate information regarding America's history," according to the BBC.

Coverage comparison

The three outlets covering the story — BBC, The Guardian, and South China Morning Post — all report that Trump issued an executive order on Friday to install temporary signage on public walkways outside the museum. The Guardian and the South China Morning Post specify that the order involves the interior secretary, the National Park Service, and the assistant to the president for domestic policy. The South China Morning Post describes the move as part of Trump's "ideological war on American cultural institutions and monuments."

The BBC reports that the Trump administration has accused the Smithsonian Institution of harbouring an anti-American bias. The Guardian notes that the order escalates attacks against the Smithsonian, which Trump and his allies accuse of politicizing the institution by focusing too much on injustices in American history. The South China Morning Post adds that the museum director, Anthea Hartig, testified before a US House subcommittee and faced harsh criticism from Republican lawmakers.

Key claims

• President Donald Trump has ordered signs to be placed outside the Smithsonian National Museum of American History, to caution visitors about exhibits his administration views as "inaccurate." This claim is supported by the BBC, The Guardian, and the South China Morning Post.
• The order directs the interior department to issue the warnings and also to direct people about where they can find "accurate information regarding America's history." This is reported by the BBC and The Guardian.
• The Trump administration has accused the Smithsonian Institution of harbouring an anti-American bias, according to the BBC.
• The American Historical Association praised the Smithsonian Institution's commitment to scholarship and accuracy in a statement earlier this month, as reported by The Guardian.
• The National Museum of American History director, Anthea Hartig, defended the institution's interpretations in congressional hearings, as reported by The Guardian and the South China Morning Post.
• The museum's displays include historical artifacts such as the desk on which Thomas Jefferson drafted the Declaration of Independence, according to the South China Morning Post.

Perspectives

Trump administration: The White House has accused the Smithsonian of veering toward "extreme political activism, rooted in Marxism," as reported by the BBC. The executive order accuses museum leadership of not doing enough to celebrate America's founders and of viewing American history as a "prime tool" to advance ideas of social justice, according to the BBC.

Smithsonian and supporters: The National Museum of American History did not immediately respond to requests for comment from the BBC and The Guardian. However, the museum's director, Anthea Hartig, testified before a US House subcommittee and defended the institution's interpretations, according to The Guardian and the South China Morning Post. The American Historical Association praised the Smithsonian's "commitment to scholarship and accuracy," warning that political interference threatens the accuracy of historical interpretation, as reported by The Guardian.

Congressional views: Republican congressman Tim Burchett said he felt the Smithsonian has "become infected by a woke ideology" to highlight American oppression, as reported by the South China Morning Post. Democrat Melanie Stansbury denounced that view, criticizing the Trump administration's broad crackdown on cultural and academic centres, according to the same outlet.