Trump lacks authority over exhibits, targets NPS sidewalks instead
President Donald Trump ordered his administration Friday to install signs in front of the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of American History, telling visitors that some of the museum’s exhibits contain what the White House considers inaccurate information, according to the Associated Press.
The move follows a report released July 4 by the White House Domestic Policy Council that said the museum’s leadership does not tell history “in a way that is inspiring, unifying, and worthy of our great republic.”
The president lacks authority to quickly fire the Smithsonian’s leadership or to order changes to the exhibits themselves, according to the AP. The executive order therefore targets the sidewalks in front of the museum, which are maintained by the National Park Service.
The executive order calls for signs informing visitors about the White House report and directing them to resources for what the order describes as “accurate information regarding America’s history,” the AP reported. It also calls for a temporary exhibit that corrects information the president deems inaccurate.