Skip to Content Subscribe Our Offers My Account Manage My Subscriptions FAQ Newsletters Canada Canadian True Crime Canadian Politics Health World Israel & Middle East Financial Post NP Comment Longreads Puzzmo Diversions Comics NP News Quiz New York Times Crossword Horoscopes Life Eating & Drinking Style Sponsored Play for Ontario Travel Travel Canada Travel USA Travel International Cruises Travel Essentials Culture Books Celebrity Movies Music Theatre Television Business Essentials Advice Lives Told Tails Told Shopping Buy Canadian Home Living Outdoor Living Kitchen & Dining Tech Style & Beauty Personal Care Entertainment & Hobbies Gift Guide Travel Guide Amazon Prime Day Deals Savings National Post Store More Sports Hockey Baseball Basketball Football Soccer Golf Tennis Driving Vehicle Research Reviews News Gear Guide Obituaries Place an Obituary Place an In Memoriam Classifieds Place an Ad Celebrations Working Business Ads Archives Healthing Epaper Manage Print Subscription Profile Settings My Subscriptions Saved Articles My Offers Newsletters Customer Service FAQ Newsletters Canada World Financial Post NP Comment Longreads Puzzmo Diversions Life Shopping Epaper Manage Print Subscription HomeNewsWorldDonald Trump orders disclaimer signs warning of inaccurate information outside museum of American historyThe highly unusual move marks the Republican's latest battle in his ideological war on American cultural institutions and monumentsAuthor of the article: You can save this article by registering for free here. Or sign-in if you have an account.National Museum of American History Director Dr. Anthea Hartig appears during an Oversight and Government Reform subcommittee on Delivering on Government Efficiency hearing on Capitol Hill on July 21, 2026. Photo by Andrew Harnik/Getty ImagesU.S. President Donald Trump issued an executive order Friday to install signage that warns visitors of inaccurate historical information inside The Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History in Washington.Enjoy the latest local, national and international news.Exclusive articles by Conrad Black, Barbara Kay and others. Plus, special edition NP Platformed and First Reading newsletters and virtual events.Unlimited online access to National Post.National Post ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on.Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword.Support local journalism.Enjoy the latest local, national and international news.Exclusive articles by Conrad Black, Barbara Kay and others. Plus, special edition NP Platformed and First Reading newsletters and virtual events.Unlimited online access to National Post.National Post ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on.Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword.Support local journalism.Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.Access articles from across Canada with one account.Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments.Enjoy additional articles per month.Get email updates from your favourite authors.Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.Access articles from across Canada with one accountShare your thoughts and join the conversation in the commentsEnjoy additional articles per monthGet email updates from your favourite authorsSign In or Create an AccountorThe highly unusual move marks the 80-year-old Republican’s latest battle in his ideological war on American cultural institutions and monuments, some of which he has renamed for himself and renovated to his liking despite legal challenges.The order calls on federal officials to “install temporary signage” on public walkways outside the building to “notify visitors that the Museum exhibits should be renovated” to reflect “accurate information regarding America’s history.”Get a dash of perspective along with the trending news of the day in a very readable format.By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc.A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder.The next issue of NP Posted will soon be in your inbox.We encountered an issue signing you up. Please try againIt comes days after Anthea Hartig, historian and director of the National Museum of American History, testified before a U.S. House subcommittee and faced harsh criticism from Republican lawmakers.She highlighted how the museum’s displays include “the desk on which Thomas Jefferson drafted the Declaration of Independence… Abraham Lincoln’s top hat from the night he was assassinated, the Greensboro lunch counter, the gowns of the first ladies” and more.In Tuesday’s hearing, Republican congressman Tim Burchett said he felt the Smithsonian has “become infected by a woke ideology” to highlight American oppression.Democrat Melanie Stansbury denounced that view, criticizing the Trump administration’s broad crackdown on cultural and academic centers.“This administration has launched an unprecedented effort to interfere in how American history is told, researched, interpreted, presented, and taught — not just in the Smithsonian, but in our schools, in our institutes of higher education, and through and across the federal government,” Stansbury said.The president’s order cites a 162-page White House report from March, that accuses the Smithsonian of failing to highlight the “constructive role of Christian belief.”“White, male, and Christian Americans are regularly denigrated as the alleged embodiment of oppressive power structures,” the report said.Hartig told lawmakers that while the White House report is under review, “we unwaveringly attest that it does not fairly or accurately characterize the full body of work at the museum.”The Smithsonian Institution, founded nearly two centuries ago, is a Washington mainstay whose 21 museums are largely dedicated to US history and culture, as well as art.Trump fired the director of the Smithsonian’s National Portrait Gallery Kim Sajet in May 2025, calling her “a highly partisan person.”Last August he slammed the Smithsonian for being “out of control” and highlighting the horrors of slavery while showing “nothing about success.”Among other efforts to renovate or rewrite history, Trump also imposed a forceful overhaul of Washington’s storied Kennedy Center, putting his name on the building, before a court order forced the removal of his name in June.Our website is the place for the latest breaking news, exclusive scoops, longreads and provocative commentary. Please bookmark nationalpost.com and sign up for our daily newsletter, Posted, here. Join the Conversation This website uses cookies to personalize your content (including ads), and allows us to analyze our traffic. Read more about cookies here. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.