Story perspectives

Smithsonian Under Fire: Critics Decry Trump's Revisionist Influence

1/13/2026

Summary

Story summary

The Smithsonian Institution faces a January 13, 2025 deadline set by U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration to review its exhibitions, with possible budget cuts.
The review aims to align history with a positive portrayal under Executive Order 14253.
The National Portrait Gallery removed references to Trump’s impeachments from his exhibition label.
Critics say these actions signal revisionism under Donald Trump’s influence, including personnel changes and censorship claims.

History

Historical Context

Following the attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed Executive Order 9066 on February 19, 1942, leading to the internment of over 120,000 Japanese Americans, two-thirds of whom were U.S. citizens. This wartime action reflected deep-seated racial prejudices and has since raised ongoing concerns about civil rights and historical narratives, as seen in the Smithsonian's recent review under Executive Order 14253.

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Story summary

The Smithsonian Institution faces a January 13, 2025 deadline set by U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration to review its exhibitions, with possible budget cuts.
The review aims to align history with a positive portrayal under Executive Order 14253.
The National Portrait Gallery removed references to Trump’s impeachments from his exhibition label.
Critics say these actions signal revisionism under Donald Trump’s influence, including personnel changes and censorship claims.

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