The order is vague but suggests Trump is seeking to purge elements of what conservatives view as a revisionist history of the US that places systemic racism at the heart of its narrative.

Donald Trump has signed an executive order titled "Restoring Truth and Sanity to American History" which targets the Smithsonian Institution. It directs JD Vance to "eliminate improper, divisive, or anti-American ideology.

The order directs the vice president to eliminate what he finds “improper” from the Smithsonian Institution, including its museums, education and research centers, and the National Zoo.