Donald Trump is not letting up on his domestic culture war. The Smithsonian is particularly vulnerable to the actions of the American president because it occupies a unique place. A federal complex of 19 national museums and nine research centers, the Smithsonian has a board that includes members of Congress and Vice President JD Vance. It depends, for the most part (62%), on federal funding.
The pressure crystallized in the summer of 2025 with the approach of the 250th anniversary of the United States, July 4, 2026. The Smithsonian is accused by the White House of promoting themes deemed “undesirable” and must meet unprecedented demands. In March 2025, Trump signed Executive Order 14253, “Restoring Truth and Sanity to American History,” requiring the Smithsonian to disengage from all ideology. “divisive” And “racial”.
On August 12, a letter from the Domestic Policy Council and the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) – two central bodies of the White House – ordered, within 75 days, the Smithsonian to provide it with all documents related to current and future exhibitions, then set 120 days for ” to correct “ content deemed ideologically oriented. The White House invokes American exceptionalism and publishes, on August 21, 22 examples of “drifts” at the Smithsonian.
A new letter, with an even more urgent tone, was sent on December 18 by Vince Haley, director of the Domestic Policy Council, and Russell Vought, director of the OMB. The signatories consider the institution’s first responses insufficient and demand the complete submission of the documentation no later than January 13, 2026. They recall that public funds can only be used in compliance with Decree 14253 and explicitly threaten with withdrawal of funding in the event of non-compliance. Because in addition to these political pressures, there is a tangible budgetary threat.
Faced with these injunctions, the American Alliance of Museums emphasizes that the collection of requested documents “will take time” for an institution of this magnitude. She reaffirms her confidence in the Smithsonian’s commitment to independent stewardship and public service.
Loonie G. Bunch III in April 2014
The Smithsonian reacted cautiously. In an internal email dated December 19, Secretary Lonnie G. Bunch III said he wanted to cooperate. He recalls that the institution “has served the country as an independent, non-partisan institution for nearly 180 years”. The Smithsonian says it is reviewing the White House letter with this in mind, continuing to “collaborate constructively” with the administration and Congress. The secretary cites the recent shutdown government to justify the delays and ensures that an internal team has been set up to identify the requested information.
In order to mollify Donald Trump, the National Portrait Gallery, which is part of the Smithsonian, changed the presentation of the American president in its “America’s Presidents” exhibition on January 10. The old portrait was replaced with a new black and white photograph taken by official White House photographer Daniel Torok. Usually, the museum selects an independent artist, often after discussion with the former president. The official White House photographer is not intended to produce works intended for museums. In this case, the image exhibited emanates directly from the executive apparatus, which raises the question of the autonomy of the historical narrative in the face of political pressures.
Daniel Torok shows the president in a solemn posture in the Oval Office, his fists on the table. The text which accompanied the first portrait has been removed. It mentioned in particular the two impeachment procedures and the attack on the Capitol on January 6, 2021. It was replaced by a simple caption indicating his years in office. The portrait of Donald Trump is therefore the only president in the gallery without any real historical context.
Alongside domestic maneuvers, the Trump administration has attacked cultural institutions on the international stage. On January 7, a presidential memorandum directs federal agencies to withdraw the United States from several international organizations deemed “contrary to American interests”. The lot includes several organizations linked to culture and history such as theInternational Center for the Study of the Preservation and Restoration of Cultural PropertyL’International Federation of Arts Councils and Culture Agencies and the Pan American Institute of Geography and History.
