WASHINGTON — The White House Domestic Policy Council released a report late on July 4, 2026, accusing the Smithsonian Institution, and specifically the National Museum of American History, of ideological bias and political activism. The report stated that the museum, "under its current leadership and current interpretive ideology, cannot be trusted to tell America's story honestly and in a way that is inspiring, unifying, and worthy of our great republic." The council, which is led by a former top Trump speechwriter, claimed that the museum's mission had shifted "away from straightforward historical education and scholarship toward an extreme political activism that seeks to transform our country." This shift, according to the report, was "confirmed in the words of Museum leadership." The report additionally asserted that the museum "confronts visitors with materials intended to undermine faith in American institutions and the longstanding shared ideals of the American people." It concluded, "We must be committed to restoring truth and sanity in how American history is presented and taught." The report also stated that the museum "has become subject to institutional capture by a radical, activist ideology that is fundamentally opposed to telling the noble, honest story of the great country we know and love."

This report follows President Donald Trump's executive order issued in March 2026, titled "Restoring Truth and Sanity to American History." That order targeted funding for Smithsonian programs that advanced "divisive narratives" and "improper ideology." Lonnie Bunch, the secretary of the Smithsonian Institution, is the first African American to hold that position, and Anthea M. Hartig is the director of the National Museum of American History, the first woman to serve in that role.

In an interview on an NBC news program on July 5, Lonnie Bunch responded to the criticisms, stating, "The notion of being a more perfect union, not the perfect union, is really what motivates me." He added, "I think what I want people to understand is that there is a responsibility to continue to make those aspirations available, accessible, meaningful to a whole range of people." Bunch further explained, "And that, in essence, America's greatest strength, it's not running away from its history, but it's understanding how that history shaped us and continues to shape us." Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro also commented on the issue in an interview on a CNN news program on July 5. Shapiro stated, "There's not one individual narrative that a president gets about our history." He indicated that any president "should want to make sure that that full history is shared, that the American people are able to draw their own conclusions." A federal court ruled last week to allow the Trump administration to reinstall interpretive panels at President George Washington's home in Philadelphia.

Why It Matters

This report from the White House Domestic Policy Council outlines a direct challenge to the interpretive approach of the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History, alleging a deviation from its core mission. The criticisms from the council align with President Trump's earlier executive order in March 2026, which sought to influence how American history is presented within federal institutions. The statements from Smithsonian Secretary Lonnie Bunch and Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro indicate differing perspectives on the role and scope of historical interpretation in national institutions.