President Donald Trump has signed an executive order titled Restoring Truth and Sanity to American History.
The order seeks to counteract what Trump describes as the increasing influence of ideological agendas that distort the country’s historical legacy and undermine national unity.
Trump’s executive order asserts that a revisionist movement grew during the Biden Administration that attempted to frame America’s founding principles and historical milestones as inherently oppressive rather than recognizing the nation’s remarkable progress in advancing liberty and individual rights.
Trump criticizes the promotion of a sense of national shame, rather than pride.
In his order, he mentions the Smithsonian Institution, which has become a vehicle for “divisive, race-centered ideology.” Examples include exhibitions such as The Shape of Power: Stories of Race and American Sculpture at the Smithsonian American Art Museum, which infused race into the art of sculpture.
The executive order seeks to remove “improper ideology” from federal museums and restore them as places of historical celebration rather than constant and unrelenting self criticism.
The executive order instructs key White House advisors to work through the Smithsonian Board of Regents to eliminate ideological influences and ensure that taxpayer funds do not support exhibits or programs that “degrade shared American values.”
The directive also explicitly prohibits the American Women’s History Museum from recognizing men as women.
The order mandates the restoration of historical monuments, memorials, and markers that have been removed or altered since Jan. 1, 2020, in “a false reconstruction of American history.” The Secretary of the Interior is tasked with identifying and reinstating such historical artifacts, ensuring they honor America’s achievements rather than disparage its past.
It also provides funding for the restoration of Independence National Historical Park in Philadelphia, home to Independence Hall.
Trump has set a deadline for the completion of these improvements by July 4, 2026, marking the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, when the park is expected to be a focal point of national celebration.
