President Donald Trump has declared an end to what he calls the “age of wokeness” by signing an executive order titled “Restoring Truth And Sanity To American History.” The directive aims to reverse historical revisions and ideological shifts that emerged during the Biden administration. Central to the order is the restoration of federal monuments and historical exhibits that had been altered or removed. Trump appointed Vice President JD Vance and advisor Lindsey Halligan to lead the initiative, emphasizing a return to what he sees as objective historical truth.
In the executive order, Trump criticized what he described as a widespread, ideologically driven campaign to rewrite U.S. history. He claimed this movement has portrayed America’s founding principles—such as liberty and individual rights—as inherently racist or oppressive. Rather than uniting the country, Trump argued that this reinterpretation fosters division and national shame, eroding public confidence in American ideals and institutions.
One specific example cited in the order was the Biden administration’s use of training materials at Independence National Historical Park that, according to Trump, pushed racial narratives and pressured park employees to present history based on their racial identity. Trump also targeted the Smithsonian Institution, accusing it of adopting a race-centered ideology. He pointed to exhibits that discuss race as a social construct and claim that Western values have been used as tools of oppression.
Trump’s order also highlighted concerns about programming at the National Museum of African American History and Culture and the forthcoming Smithsonian American Women’s History Museum. He criticized their inclusion of ideas that identify concepts like hard work and the nuclear family as “White culture” and their recognition of transgender athletes in women’s exhibits, asserting these narratives undermine shared American values.
As part of his policy shift, Trump announced that future federal funding to the Smithsonian would be contingent on rejecting divisive ideological content. He emphasized a desire to restore museums and monuments as sources of inspiration that honor American heritage, innovation, and unity. The administration plans to ensure that historical institutions focus on education and pride in the nation’s progress rather than what Trump sees as ideological indoctrination.
