Republican Representative Brandon Gill backed President Trump’s executive order seeking changes at the Smithsonian and called for a “clean house” approach to its leadership and exhibits. He argued that some museum material promotes left-wing activism rather than history, highlighting the political dispute over how publicly funded institutions should present the United States’ past.

Gill’s comments followed his questioning of National Museum of American History director Anthea Hartig about material linking traits such as politeness to “White supremacy culture”. Trump’s March 2025 order directs officials to remove what it describes as improper ideology from Smithsonian properties, while critics have raised concerns that the administration’s review could politicise historical interpretation.