White House orders oversight of Smithsonian messaging after conservatives criticize display featuring Anthony Fauci

President Donald J. Trump has issued an order aimed at restoring trust in the Smithsonian Institution, a White House action published this month that directs policy changes following a months-long review of the National Museum of American History’s presentations. The order, described by the White House as being carried out “pursuant to” Executive Order 14253 issued in March 2025, comes as a Fox News report says conservative scrutiny has focused on a Smithsonian display that includes a signed baseball cap and other items presented as heroic-era recognition of Anthony Fauci.

The White House’s “Restoring Trust in the Smithsonian Institution” page says the Domestic Policy Council completed a review of the museum’s messaging and directed follow-on changes under the administration’s authority, pointing to what it characterized as ideological capture. The White House did not, in the summary of the order, provide details about specific objects or exhibits, but it tied the action to the Smithsonian’s role in presenting American history to the public.

The Fox News report centers on the display at the Smithsonian that critics say lionizes Fauci and is part of what they characterize as politicized museum messaging. The outlet describes a baseball cap bearing Fauci’s signature as well as a heroic placard shown prominently for visitors, and it frames the exhibit as drawing attention from conservative lawmakers and watchdog groups seeking changes to museum content and context.

While the White House’s order establishes the administration’s broader oversight and review framework for the Smithsonian, it does not in the White House summary identify the Fauci display or confirm the specific characterization used by critics. In response to the Fox News report, any potential Smithsonian adjustments would likely occur through the processes referenced by the administration’s order, including administrative review and policy implementation inside the museum or through Smithsonian governance channels.

The Smithsonian is an institution that presents public-facing historical material, and disputes over interpretive framing often raise questions about speech, public communication, and due process for how museums and federal institutions govern displays. The administration’s order, issued by President Trump and linked to the March 2025 executive order, indicates the White House is treating messaging disputes as a governance and compliance issue, rather than only an issue of public controversy.

Separately, federal notices show the Smithsonian and other museums continue regular exhibition operations under standard processes. A Federal Register notice published July 28 listed determinations for culturally significant objects being imported for exhibition purposes at The Cleveland Museum of Art and at “possible” additional venues, underscoring that museums remain engaged in ongoing, procedural exhibition workflows even as messaging disputes draw political attention.

For now, the record available from the White House describes the overarching policy action and its stated rationale, while the Fauci-specific details are currently presented through the Fox News reporting. Smithsonian officials and the White House would be expected to clarify whether any changes to specific exhibits are planned, and what timeline applies to implementation under President Trump’s order.