Trump targets Smithsonian in executive order, calling its telling of history 'racist'

WASHINGTON (7News) — The Smithsonian Institution became the latest target of the Trump Administration, with an executive order aimed at removing what President Trump calls improper ideology.

According to the executive order, Trump believes the Smithsonian's telling of America's history is "racist, sexist, oppressive, or otherwise irredeemably flawed."

Over the past decade, Americans have witnessed a concerted and widespread effort to rewrite our nation’s history, replacing objective facts with a distorted narrative driven by ideology rather than truth. - President Donald J. Trump

While the president calls current exhibitions a rewriting of history, others call his order an attempt to erase history.

"We have never seen a president in such a sweeping fashion try to impose not historical truth but his political orthodoxy on our sacred institutions that memorialize historical truth," said Allan Lichtman, Distinguished Professor of History at American University.

"You attack the Smithsonian, you are attacking the portrayal of American culture and history at its core," Lichtman said.

The order also seeks to remove recognition of trans women's achievements from the American Women’s History Museum.

When she learned of the executive order, Talisha Beitia was visiting the National Mall.

"I'm a conservative person, but when it comes to equality, I think there should be representation for everybody whether they are transgender, gay, lesbian, all of it," said Beitia.

A separate executive order was also issued Thursday.

The "Making the District of Columbia Safe and Beautiful" executive order would increase law enforcement in public areas, maximize immigration enforcement, and help D.C.'s crime lab get accredited.

Patrice Sulton, the Executive Director of D.C. Justice Lab, takes issue with the presidential action.

"This is only the latest in a pattern of attacks on our ability to control our own affairs," she said.

"This war on cities is not going to end in D.C.," she said. "This is an issue that affects us all. It's fundamental to the most central freedoms that we're guaranteed."

7News contacted the mayor's office, D.C. police, and other offices that stand to be impacted by the order.