His order claimed that the Smithsonian, in particular, had “come under the influence of a divisive, race-centered ideology” and that it promotes “narratives that portray American and Western values as inherently harmful and oppressive.”
The executive order presents a test for Mr. Bunch, who was not told of it in advance. Though he has not commented publicly, he last week sent an email to Smithsonian employees indicating an intention to persevere, saying that “we remain committed to telling the multifaceted stories of this country’s extraordinary heritage.”
Mr. Bunch won praise for creating and leading the African American museum. But in an indication of the pressure he is expected to feel from the Trump administration going forward, Steven Cheung, the White House communications director, described Mr. Bunch in a statement earlier this week as a “failure.”
The museum opened with strong bipartisan support, but has come under attack from some Republicans as race and diversity have become a growing political flashpoint. In a 2023 congressional hearing with Mr. Bunch, some Republicans accused the Smithsonian of “left indoctrination.”
Mr. Trump’s order criticized the African American Museum for a graphic posted online in May 2020 that referred to “hard work,” “individualism” and “the nuclear family” as part of “white culture.” (The graphic has drawn condemnation before; in the past Mr. Bunch has said he agreed that the graphic was inappropriate, and noted it had been taken down shortly after it was posted, when it was criticized by Donald Trump Jr. and other conservatives.)
The graphic was posted before Mr. Young’s arrival at the museum. During his tenure, the museum has organized a number of temporary exhibits with a strong arts and cultural bent, including “Reckoning,” a show about art and Black protest that opened in 2021, and “Afrofuturism,” which opened in 2023.
David Remnick, the editor of The New Yorker, said: “Kevin’s contributions to the culture as a poet, essayist, editor, and leader of a great American museum are dazzling. I know he will go on making his mark in myriad ways and in the bravest voice.”
