White House Orders Review of Smithsonian Museums for "American Exceptionalism"

White House Directive to Smithsonian

• ✉️ The White House has initiated a review of exhibits and materials at the Smithsonian Institution, encompassing 21 museums.
• 🎯 The stated goal is to ensure alignment with President Trump's directive to celebrate American exceptionalism, remove divisive or partisan narratives, and restore confidence in cultural institutions.
• 📜 A letter to Smithsonian Secretary Lonnie Bunch III requested a comprehensive catalog of exhibitions, budgets, traveling exhibition plans, and internal guidelines.

Broader Context of Administration's Efforts

• 🚫 This review is framed as part of a larger administration effort to purge government websites and historical sites of references to Black Americans, gay and lesbian Americans, and transgendered Americans.
• ✊ Previous actions include flagging for removal on a Pentagon website a photo of the Enola Gay and eliminating references to Black and Latino war heroes, gay servicemembers, and integration efforts.
• ⚖️ An executive order in March targeted concepts perceived as