President Trump has issued a slew of executive orders since taking office in January, but perhaps one of his more controversial orders will prove to be one that passed last Thursday. The order seeks to fix the “historical revision” of America’s past.
The Smithsonian Institution, specifically, is noted for coming “under the influence of a divisive, race-centered ideology” in recent years. The White House notes that “[m]useums 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.” Under the executive order, the Smithsonian Institution will be restored as a symbol of inspiration and American greatness, one which honors U.S. history and innovation and instills pride to all Americans.
According to the order, the Trump administration will prohibit spending government money on exhibits or programs that degrade shared American values, or divide our country based on race. Practically, this means no more exhibits suggesting that America is inherently racist and seeking to degrade people of color. This executive order also promises to celebrate the achievements of actual women in the American Women’s History Museum, noting that it will not acknowledge biological men as women in any respect. This is a big step, as the forthcoming women’s museum was planning to include biological men and nonbinary women in its displays.
Additionally, the order notes the need to appoint citizen members to the Smithsonian Board of Regents who are “committed to advancing the policy of this order.” The order also instructs Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum to provide funding to improve the infrastructure of Independence National Historical Park, which shall be completed by the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. Burgum will also be responsible for looking into other monuments or statues that have been altered or removed to pander to partisan racial ideology. He must lead an effort to reinstate monuments or memorials that have been removed and take action to ensure public monuments or memorials do not contain information that disparages Americans past or living.
President Trump’s executive order has come at a crucial moment in America’s history, as race-conscious ideologies seem to reign supreme, particularly at state-funded museums and parks. For example, on a regular tour of Mount Vernon, a tourist might expect to be told that George Washington’s slaves were equally the founders of our country. While walking through the National Museum of American History every display which may be associated with racism has a disclaimer, warning visitors that America was once racist, but now it is not. Students learn to highly laud Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X, but to shame George Washington and Thomas Jefferson for owning slaves, disparaging the Founding. Everywhere across America, in public and even private schools, Booker T. Washington is read, while classical literature is ignored. This is a profound shift, one seen even in the America educational system.
Unsurprisingly, news outlets have not offered favorable coverage for the executive order. The Guardian describes it as a “cultural wrecking ball,” and an “attempt to whitewash the past and suppress discussions of systemic racism and social justice.” However, Trump has explicitly stated his desire to end the shaming of past Americans, not to erase or neglect past injustices. One of the main issues dealt with in this order is the desire to maintain America’s national monuments, working to keep these landmarks safe and true to history.
To this end, Vice President J.D. Vance has been tasked to “determine whether, since January 1, 2020, public monuments, memorials, statues, markers, or similar properties within the Department of Interior’s jurisdiction have been removed or changed to perpetuate a false reconstruction of American history, inappropriately minimize the value of certain historical events or figures or include any other improper partisan ideology.” This makes clear the goal of this executive order: to prevent the marginalization of historical American figures who should be lauded for their courage and actions in forming the United States. This order prevents the disparaging of Americans, both living and dead, in public monuments and memorials. In other words, this order is designed to cultivate an appreciation of America and American heroes, not to degrade those who are not our white Founding Fathers.
In comments to The Washington Stand, Steven Policastro, founder and creator of the International Association for Creation, said, “We applaud the presidential Executive Order and look forward to supporting the Smithsonian in curating their educational offerings to present an accurate view of history without political bias — an initiative that will restore public trust in our museums as world-renowned institutions for America’s new ‘Golden Age.’”
This order seeks to bring sanity back to America’s history after the chaos of the 2020 Black Lives Matter riots. It provides a remedy for the injustice of historical statues being pulled down and destroyed, splattered with paint. It provides hope for Americans who do not understand why it is that they are called racist for visiting monuments or enjoying art while in the Smithsonian museums. Most importantly, this provides an opportunity to celebrate America’s heritage without fear of being canceled.
Anne Love is an intern at Family Research Council.
