Winston Churchill said in his 1948 speech, “those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.” His message explains that in order to make progress, a nation must first acknowledge and own up to its past mistakes. America is a country whose history is colored by many successes and simultaneously many failures. While it is praised as a cultural melting pot, many historians urge Americans to remember the nation’s history, most notably, America’s long-standing history of slavery and racism. American children are taught about slavery in their elementary school history classes. American adults do not follow an academic curriculum; however, many choose to continue to learn about African-American struggles when they visit history museums.
American history museums have long been regarded as national pillars of pride. Museums such as the National Museum of African American Culture, the Smithsonian, the National Museum of the American Latino, and the National Museum of American History are amongst some of the most famous institutions which shine light on the nation’s past. Although the material presented may not always be comforting or pleasant, the museums have been praised for their unapologetic depictions of the country’s dark history.
But what happens when an individual cannot handle the past? What consequences does a nation face when its leaders do not wish to own up to its history? The answers might just be unfolding in real time as President Donald Trump works to reorganize American history museums to showcase “American greatness,” as stated on the White House website.
On March 27, 2025, President Trump enacted executive order 14253, also known as “Restoring Truth and Sanity to American History.” The White House website describes the goal of this executive order to be to “remind Americans of our extraordinary heritage, consistent progress toward becoming a more perfect Union, and unmatched record of advancing liberty, prosperity, and human flourishing.” The executive order primarily targets famous institutions like the Smithsonian and the National Museum of African American Culture, proclaiming that museum visitors should “not be subjected to ideological indoctrination or divisive narratives that distort our shared history.”
The executive order claims that it will “fix” the museums in question through means such as funding cuts, as well as the placement of like-minded, smaller politicians onto the museum boards. Additionally, President Trump promises that a team of lawyers will begin investigations across all American museums, seeking out exhibits that do not paint America in a positive light.
Professor Claire Oberon Garcia, a scholar specializing in Black Diasporic Studies, argues against “Restoring Truth and Sanity to American History,” stating that it is “nothing short of an attempt to ensure all depictions of US history conform to a narrow range of ideas regarding what and who is important in American history.“ She, alongside many other academics, speaks out against the executive order, believing it to be restrictive and ultimately hindering American progress.
Christopher Scalia, a member of the American Enterprise Institute, defends an alternative claim. In an interview with PBS, Scalia claims that “the constant emphasis on [dark American history] makes Americans feel ashamed of their past. There are things about our past that should embarrass us and shame us, but those aren’t the only things we should be hearing about.” His point of view is shared by many conservatives, who argue that a frequent, mass focus on the nation’s shortcomings contribute to falling morale and decline in patriotism.
To people living in Hastings-on-Hudson, this executive order may impact the local art, history, and education culture. To start, Hastings is a community surrounded by many museums, such as the River Arts Museum, and the Hastings-on-Hudson Historical Society. Many Hastings residents also make a habit of visiting NYC museums like the MET, the MOMA, and the New York Museum of Natural History. While none of these local museums have been directly targeted by President Trump’s executive order, it is not outlandish to wonder if that will remain the same in the foreseeable future. After all, these institutions aim to share American history. Who’s to say that a famous painting in the MET won’t suddenly be deemed “ideological indoctrination?”
If it takes a single person to rewrite history, is our access and documentation of the past truly secure?
