From Museum To Mouthpiece: Smithsonian Falls Under Political Oversight

Originally Posted On Jon Hall’s Apocalypse Diaries

The world’s largest museum and research complex is about to rewritten – but not by historians, by political appointees.

A letter posted to the White House website shows that the Trump administration has sent plans to Lonnie Bunch, the secretary of the Smithsonian Institution, to review a wide variety of the museum’s materials, exhibitions, and operations ahead of America’s 250th anniversary celebrations in 2026.

In March, Trump signed an executive order titled “Restoring Truth and Sanity to American History” that eliminates “improper, divisive or anti-American ideology”.

Another aim of the order was to focus on ensuring the Smithsonian “sparks children’s imagination, celebrates American history… and serves as a symbol to the world of American greatness…”

In the letter to Bunch, the White House claimed the museum’s programs should reflect “unity, progress, and enduring values that define the American story”.

The museum will have 120 days to replace content the Trump administration finds is “divisive or ideologically driven language with unifying, historically accurate and constructive descriptions”.

This sweeping measure includes the Smithsonian’s online content, exhibition planning, the use of artist grants and collections, and public-facing text on the exhibition displays.

White House senior associate, Lindsey Halligan said the move was “about preserving trust in one of our most cherished institutions”.

Although the Smithsonian denies any political pressure, they temporarily removed references to Trump’s two impeachments from their museums in early August – but went on to reinstate the references last week.

However, the updated references now have shorter and more neutralized descriptions of the charges that led to Trump’s double impeachment. Notably, National Portrait Gallery Director Kim Sajet also resigned after butting heads with the administration on diversity initiatives.

After this week’s letter to the Smithsonian from the Trump administration, it seems a bit of a stretch that the updated references to Trump’s impeachment weren’t directed by an outside influence.

Initially, the oversight will target eight major Smithsonian museums – including the National Museum of American History, the National Air and Space Museum, and the National Museum of African American History and Culture.

This move parallels the Trump administration’s recent pushes into other institutions, too. Under the Paramount/Skydance merger, CBS is being made to install what’s likely to be a politically-aligned “bias monitor” to oversee media coverage. In May, NPR and PBS were defunded. Furthermore, despite record-low violent crime rates in the capital, Trump has even federalized Washington D.C.’s police force.

Trump has signaled that D.C. isn’t the only city he plans to “clean… up”, citing he will seek to federally control Baltimore, Chicago, Los Angeles, New York and Oakland as well.

The timing is no accident. The U.S.’s 250th anniversary is a high-visibility milestone, and shaping the story told during the celebrations is both symbolic and strategic.

The White House letter demands content corrections, organizational charts, artist grant records, and even internal communications – a level of access that blurs the line between public stewardship and political influence.

The Smithsonian was built to preserve the American story. Now, that story is being rewritten under supervision. When political power can decide which truths to display and which to erase, the museum stops being a guardian of history — and becomes the gatekeeper.