Trump orders signage warning visitors of ‘inaccurate information’ at Smithsonian

President Trump has issued an executive order requiring new signage at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History. The order directs the Interior Secretary and the National Park Service to install notices along walkways used by the public to access the museum.

These signs serve as a formal warning to visitors regarding information the administration identifies as inaccurate. This decision follows a White House report released on July 4, which questioned the institution’s approach to American history and accused its leadership of using exhibits to promote specific social justice narratives rather than a unified national story.

In his directive, the president argues that the museum cannot be trusted to present American history with honesty. He has tasked the Interior Secretary, the Office of Management and Budget, and the General Services Administration with using available authorities to ensure that the findings of the July 4 report are enforced according to a broader executive order signed in March 2025.

Smithsonian Secretary Lonnie Bunch has stated that the institution’s work remains grounded in scholarship, independence, and nonpartisanship. In response to previous criticisms, Bunch maintained that the museum is committed to telling the full scope of American history accurately and with integrity. The museum has not issued further comments regarding the latest order to install exterior warning signs.