“We will remove improper ideology and restore our monuments to Americans’ rightful history.”
The promise
On March 31, 2025, President Trump signed EO 14253, “Restoring Truth and Sanity to American History,” directing the Department of the Interior and Smithsonian Institution to review whether monuments, memorials, statues, and markers since 2020 “inappropriately disparage Americans” and to reinstate any removed or altered works. The order aims to purge “improper ideology” from historical displays, enforce unified narratives, and assert patriotic interpretations of U.S. history. It mandates agency reporting to recommend further actions. Implementation involves revising exhibit content, curating new displays, restoring removed statues, and oversight by Interior and policy staff. Critics warn of selective history, political rewriting, and administrative burden. The order is underway, but full impact will take years.
