WASHINGTON (AP) 鈥� The Smithsonian Institution gave the White House new documents on its planned exhibits Tuesday in response to a demand to share precise details of what its museums and other programs are doing for America鈥檚 250th birthday.
For months, President Donald Trump has been pressing the Smithsonian to back off 鈥渄ivisive narratives鈥� and tell an upbeat story on the country鈥檚 history and culture, with the threat of holding back federal money if it doesn鈥檛. The institution is a cornerstone of American culture, operating 21 museums and a zoo that are among the most popular tourist destinations in Washington.
By Tuesday, the Smithsonian was supposed to provide lists of all displays, objects, wall text and other material dedicated to this year鈥檚 anniversary and other purposes. Smithsonian Secretary Lonnie Bunch III told staff, in an email obtained by The New York Times and The Washington Post, that 鈥渨e transmitted more information in response to that request.鈥�
The White House did not respond to a request for comment, leaving it unclear whether it was satisfied with the material it received. Bunch indicated there was more to come, saying the institution will continue to engage in providing 鈥渞elevant and appropriate materials.鈥�
The Trump administration鈥檚 intent is to ensure Americans get of the country鈥檚 history, not one weighted by complexities or shameful episodes of the past.
The ultimatum was laid out in to Bunch from the White House budget director, Russell Vought, and the domestic policy director, Vince Haley.
Escalating pressure
鈥淲e wish to be assured that none of the leadership of the Smithsonian museums is confused about the fact that the United States has been among the greatest forces for good in the history of the world,鈥� the letter said.
Americans 鈥渨ill have no patience for any museum that is diffident about America鈥檚 founding or otherwise uncomfortable conveying a positive view of American history, one which is justifiably proud of our country鈥檚 accomplishments and record.鈥�
The Smithsonian is not a federal entity but receives a majority of its money from Congress.
The White House initially asked for all relevant materials in September but said documents turned over by the Smithsonian fell far short of what it requested.
In his March , Trump claimed there had been a 鈥渃oncerted and widespread鈥� effort over the past decade to rewrite American history by replacing 鈥渙bjective facts鈥� with a 鈥渄istorted narrative driven by ideology rather than truth.鈥�
As part of that, Trump tasked Vice President JD Vance with overseeing efforts to 鈥渞emove improper ideology鈥� from all areas of the institution. Like other vice presidents, Vance serves on the Smithsonian鈥檚 board.
The Smithsonian and the White House did not respond to requests for comment Tuesday afternoon.
Reshaping America’s story
The prospect of polishing the historical record to satisfy a president is concerning to many who study the past.
鈥淗istory is about evidence,” said Matthew Delmont, a history professor at Dartmouth College. 鈥淚t’s about welcoming complexity and nuance. It鈥檚 not about crafting a single story that needs to make everyone feel happy.鈥�
Jim McSweeney, a retired archivist from the National Archives, said: 鈥淗ere鈥檚 our history. Here鈥檚 our shared experience. We have to learn from it and never go back and try to whitewash or change anything based upon your political leanings.鈥�
In the months leading up to Trump鈥檚 order in August for an official , Trump fired the and said he was firing the National Portrait Gallery鈥檚 director, Kim Sajet, who maintained the backing of the Smithsonian鈥檚 governing board, but ultimately resigned.
Already, references to Trump鈥檚 two impeachments have been removed from his photo portrait display at the Smithsonian鈥檚 National Portrait Gallery in its 鈥淎merican Presidents鈥� exhibition, though
Museums under scrutiny
Administration officials have couched the accounting as work needed before the nation celebrates the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, which the letter calls 鈥渁 singular opportunity to justify confidence in the operations of America鈥檚 leading cultural institutions.鈥�
The Smithsonian review is just one part of Trump’s broadside against a culture he deems too liberal.
Trump of the Kennedy Center, one of the nation鈥檚 premier cultural institutions, handpicking a new one that voted to to the storied complex鈥檚 exterior. In the months since, a number of artists have at the venue, some citing the name change and Trump鈥檚 involvement.
At the White House, Trump designed a partisan and subjective featuring gilded photographs of himself and predecessors, with plaques on what they did. He excludes Democrat Joe Biden, who is represented instead by an autopen to symbolize what Trump has described as a presidency in absentia.
At the time, the White House said Trump was a primary author of the plaques, which praised him as a historically successful figure and described Biden as the worst president in history and one who brought the U.S. to “the brink of destruction.鈥�
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This story was first published on Jan. 13, 2026. It was published again on Jan. 14, 2026, to correct that Vice President JD Vance was already on the Smithsonian Board of Regents when President Donald Trump directed him to oversee the removal of 鈥渋mproper ideology鈥� from the institution. Vance was not placed on the board to oversee that effort.
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