The Trump administration has issued a directive aimed at revising exhibit content within national parks and monuments overseen by the Interior Department. Signed as an executive order in March, the directive seeks to eliminate exhibits that reflect what the administration terms “corrosive ideology” or “disparage America and its heroes.”
President Trump has publicly criticized institutions, including the Smithsonian, for what he describes as an excessive focus on “how bad slavery was” rather than highlighting “America’s successes and ‘brightness’.” The administration’s position suggests that some existing materials emphasize negative aspects of American history without adequately acknowledging national progress.
This directive aligns with prior stances by President Trump, who has opposed the removal of Confederate statues and initiated processes to restore original names to U.S. Army installations previously honoring Southern leaders associated with slavery. Park officials are reportedly interpreting these orders to encompass the potential removal or deletion of exhibits and information pertaining to slavery, racism, sexism, the persecution of Indigenous people, and LGBTQ+ rights.
Source: timesofindia.indiatimes.com