President Donald Trump’s executive order, unveiled in March, calls for a review of museum exhibits to reintroduce a notion of ‘American exceptionalism’ in federally funded museums ahead of the 250th anniversary of the nation’s founding. The directive, which aims to ensure that historical content aligns with a more positive vision of the country, has sparked opposition from broadcast networks that frame the move as an overreach. The Smithsonian, which receives over 60% of its funding from the federal government, is a focal point of the political and media debate, with critics arguing that the administration’s approach is authoritarian.
On ABC’s ‘World News Tonight,’ the screen read ‘TRUMP ESCALATES ATTACKS ON MUSEUMS.’ White House reporter Mary Bruce was the substitute anchor. She announced: ‘The president targeting what he calls woke exhibits, saying museums should focus more on America’s, quote, brightness, and not on, quote, ‘how bad slavery was.”
Liz Peek, a Fox News opinion writer, argued that Trump’s stance is a direct challenge to the current direction of the Smithsonian. She pointed out that many of the museum’s exhibits focus on ‘divisive narratives’ of American history. Meanwhile, the American Alliance of Museums claimed that no president has the power to impose such a review, though the administration has the authority to condition federal funding on compliance with certain criteria.
On ‘CBS Mornings,’ co-host Tony Dokoupil took a more balanced approach, suggesting that there is room for ‘correction back toward the middle’ when it comes to historical narratives. However, the ‘CBS Evening News Plus’ anchor, John Dickerson, criticized the move, arguing that it was an affront to ‘American exceptionalism’ and the memory of Union soldiers who fought to end slavery.
NPR and PBS have also weighed in, with NPR featuring historian Nikole Hannah-Jones, the creator of the ‘1619 Project,’ who accused Trump of attempting to create a ‘mythic past’ through his critiques of historical narratives. These media outlets have framed Trump’s comments as an attempt to sanitize history.
While Trump’s critics argue that the president is attempting to censor historical content, supporters of the executive order argue that the federal government has the right to ensure that its supported institutions reflect a more positive and accurate historical narrative. This has sparked a broader debate over the role of federal funding in shaping historical narratives and the responsibilities of museums in presenting historical content.