Trump executive order orders warning signs at Smithsonian over DEI exhibits

President Donald Trump signed an executive order requiring warning signs outside Smithsonian museums, claiming the exhibits promote a politically driven agenda and downplay America's founding principles. The order targets displays such as the 1619 Project and other DEI‑focused content, sparking a heated debate in Congress and among museum staff.

The order mirrors arguments made by far‑right activist David Barton, a self‑described “historian” who leads the WallBuilders organization. A report links Barton's anti‑Smithsonian stance to the executive order, noting his claims that American history is rooted in Christian ideology and that the museum understates the role of Christianity and the founding fathers.

Smithsonian Secretary Lonnie Bunch III, who has championed diversity and inclusion as central to the institution’s mission, earned more than $4.4 million in salary and benefits from 2020‑2024, a figure highlighted in the controversy. The combined actions have intensified the cultural and political clash over how U.S. history is presented in the nation’s flagship museum system.