Trump escalates Smithsonian attack with order for signs outside history museum | Donald Trump
Donald Trump on Friday ordered the Internal Affairs Department to post signs outside the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History accusing the institution of falsehood.
order Trump is stepping up his attacks on the Smithsonian, which he and his allies accuse of politicizing the institution by focusing too much on injustices in American history rather than more triumphant moments like the signing of the Declaration of Independence.
The order directs Interior Secretary Doug Burgum to meet with the National Park Service and Vince Haley, the assistant to the president for domestic policy, to install temporary signs along sidewalks and walkways leading to the museum maintained by the National Parks Service.
The White House did not immediately respond to a request for more details about what these signs mean.
The instruction states that the signs “will inform visitors that museum exhibits must be renovated in accordance with the findings of the report.” The order says the signs must direct the public to other places where they can get better information on American history.
The same group will also need to produce public signage criticizing the Smithsonian for not adequately commemorating the Declaration of Independence on the 250th anniversary of its adoption.
The American Historical Association, a group of professional historians, praised the Smithsonian Institution’s “commitment to scholarship and accuracy” in a statement earlier this month.
“Historians practice our craft with scientific integrity, in accordance with established standards of evidence, historical research, and professional practice.” The AHA statement reads:. “Political interference in professional museum work threatens the integrity of the interpretation of history and erodes public confidence in one of our nation’s most important institutions.”
The National Museum of American History declined to comment.
But the museum’s director, Anthea Hartig, defended the institution’s comments during a series of congressional hearings earlier this month; where Republican representatives were outraged about “explicitly sexual stuff” and accused Hartig of promoting “self-hatred.”
Hartig responded: “We honor the declaration, the revolution, the constitution and our national symbols.” According to the New York Times. “And we tell the truth about times when the country fell short of its founding ideals. Telling our full story is a form of respect for the American people and a commitment to continually seeking a more perfect union.”
A. last report In the statement titled “Saving America’s Story” prepared by the White House’s domestic policy council, he accused the museum management of “ideological capture.”
The Smithsonian “has openly adopted an ideological framework that no longer treats the American story as a common national heritage to be taught or celebrated, but as a political tool to divide, demoralize, and discourage our citizens.” the report says.
