President Trump has ordered the installation of signage outside the National Museum of American History to warn visitors about what he describes as inaccurate information within the exhibits.

President Donald Trump issued an executive order on Friday directing the installation of temporary warning signs along public walkways leading to the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History. The order mandates that the signs notify visitors of alleged inaccuracies in the museum's exhibits and direct them toward alternative resources for historical information. This action follows a July 4 White House report that accused the museum's leadership of promoting extreme political activism and anti-American narratives.

Executive Order and Signage Requirements

The executive order directs Interior Secretary Doug Burgum to coordinate with the National Park Service to place signage on sidewalks and walkways maintained by the agency. These signs are intended to inform the public of the findings from the July 4 White House report and to communicate the administration's demand that museum exhibits be renovated to align with those findings. The order also tasks the Office of Management and Budget Director Russell Vought, the General Services Administration, and the assistant to the president for domestic policy with using available authorities to support these policies.

Conflict Over Historical Representation

The directive is part of a broader effort initiated by a March 2025 executive order, which sought to review Smithsonian content and target federal funding for programs deemed to present divisive narratives. In his latest order, President Trump stated that museum leadership views history as a tool for social justice rather than a shared national inheritance. The administration specifically criticized museum director Anthea Hartig, accusing the institution of failing to tell America's story with honesty. In response to the criticism, Hartig has invited lawmakers to tour the museum, asserting that the institution aims to tell the full sweep of history. Smithsonian Secretary Lonnie Bunch has also defended the museum's work, stating in an email that the White House report does not fairly characterize the institution's commitment to scholarship and accuracy.