Trump Reshapes U.S. Cultural and Historical Institutions

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Since returning to the White House, President Donald Trump has taken several actions to reshape American cultural and historical institutions, from signing an executive order targeting "anti-American ideology" at the Smithsonian to ordering the restoration of Confederate statues and the removal of slavery exhibits at national parks. Trump has also criticized the Kennedy Center as too liberal, leading to a controversial renaming, and has withdrawn the U.S. from various global cultural and refugee agencies.

Why it matters

Trump's moves to reshape cultural and historical institutions have drawn criticism from civil rights advocates who say they could reverse decades of social progress and deny the atrocities of slavery. The actions also raise concerns about the politicization of public spaces and museums, which are meant to objectively present American history and culture.

The details

In March 2025, Trump signed an executive order targeting the spread of "anti-American ideology" at the Smithsonian Institution and directing the Interior Department to restore federal parks, monuments, and memorials that had been "removed or changed in the last years to perpetuate a false revision of history." The administration has also ordered the removal of slavery exhibits and references to Native American mistreatment from national park signage, and has moved to reinstate a statue of Confederate General Albert Pike. Trump has also criticized the Smithsonian and the Kennedy Center, leading to internal reviews and a controversial renaming of the latter institution.

• In March 2025, Trump signed an executive order targeting "anti-American ideology" at the Smithsonian Institution.
• In August 2025, Trump decried an excessive focus on "how bad slavery was" and said civil rights protections hurt white people.
• In January 2026, a slavery exhibit was removed from a historic site in Philadelphia where George Washington lived.
• In August 2025, the National Park Service said it would reinstall a statue of Confederate General Albert Pike.
• In 2025, Trump named himself chairman of the Kennedy Center and filled its board with allies, leading to a controversial renaming of the institution in December 2025.

What they’re saying

What’s next

The Smithsonian has said it will engage "constructively" with the White House's internal review of some of its museums. The future of the Kennedy Center's renaming and the restoration of Confederate statues at national parks remain to be seen.