Washington – President Donald Trump Thursday revealed his intention to force changes in the Smithsonian institution With a Executive order That is directed to the funds for programs that advance “divisive narratives” and “inadequate ideology”, the last step on a wide side against culture that considers too liberal.
Trump said there has been a “concerted and generalized” effort during the last decade to rewrite US history by replacing the “objective facts” with a “distorted narrative driven by ideology instead of truth”, and adds that it launches the “founding principles” of the United States in a “negative light.”
The order he signed behind closed doors puts the vice president JD Vancewhich serves at the Regent Board of the Smithsonian institution, in charge of supervising efforts to “eliminate inadequate ideology” of all areas of the institution, including its museums, education and research centers, and the National Zoo.
It marks the last save of the Republican President against the cultural pillars of society, such as universities and art, which he considers out of tune with conservative sensibilities. Trump recently had himself installed as president of the John F. Kennedy center for the performing arts With the aim of reviewing the programming, including the annual honor awards of Kennedy Center. The administration also recently Forced Columbia University to make a series of changes in policies By threatening the Ivy League school with the loss of several hundred millions of dollars in federal funds.
The executive order also hints the return of statues and monuments of confederate figures, many of which were withdrawn or replaced throughout the country after the murder of the police of the police of George Floyd in Minneapolis in 2020 and the Rise of the Black Lives Matter movement, which is held by Trump and other conservatives.
The order also requires improvements to the Independence Hall in Philadelphia before July 4, 2026, on time for the 250 anniversary of the signing of the declaration of independence.
Trump pointed out National Museum of African -American History and Culturewhich opened in 2016 near the White House, the Museum of History of Women, which is in development, and the Museum of American Art for criticism.
“Museums in the capital of our nation must be places where individuals will learn, not to be subjected to ideological indoctrination or divisive narratives that distort our shared history,” he said.
Linda St. Thomas, the main spokeswoman for the Smithsonian institution, said in an email on Thursday night: “We have no comments for now.”
According to Trump’s order, Vance will also work with the White House Budget Office to ensure that future financing for the Smithsonian institution is not spent on programs that “degrade shared US values, divide Americans based on race or promote programs or ideologies that are inconsistent with federal law and politics.” Trump also wants to make sure that the Women’s History Museum celebrates women and does not “recognize men as women in any aspect.”
It also requires that the Secretary of the Interior restore monuments, memorials, statues and similar properties that have been eliminated or changed since January 1, 2020, to “perpetuate a false reconstruction of US history, inappropriately minimize the value of certain historical events or figures, or include any other incorrect partisan ideas.”
The Smithsonian institution is the world’s most large museum, education and research. It consists of 21 museums and the National Zoo. Eleven museums are found throughout the National Mall in Washington.
The institution was established by the Congress with money from James Smithson, a British scientist who left its heritage to the United States to find “in Washington, under the name of the Smithsonian institution, an establishment for the increase and dissemination of knowledge.”
