Demand Progress

The White House is pressuring the Smithsonian to deliver on Trump's demands for a full review of its museums TOMORROW.¹ The White House made very clear that the Smithsonian’s funding is on the line.²

A Trump executive order earlier this year accused the museums of featuring “race-centered ideology” and “ideological indoctrination.”³ Trump said recently that the Smithsonian focuses too much on “how bad slavery was.”⁴

Trump and his MAGA lackeys want to rewrite history, hide the painful parts of America’s past, and spread right-wing propaganda through the nation’s premier museums. The Smithsonian Board of Regents must remain steadfast against Trump and protect history.

Sign the petition: Tell the Smithsonian to reject Trump’s attempt to rewrite the historical record of America!

Trump said last week that “big changes are being made at the Smithsonian.”⁵ The administration is pressuring the Smithsonian to align with “the President’s directive to celebrate American exceptionalism, remove divisive or partisan narratives.”⁶

Trump has gone after institutions in all parts of American life to demand they comply with his dangerous policies. Columbia. Harvard. Amazon. The nation’s biggest law firms. ABC. CBS. Trump’s right-wing takeover is targeting every corner of society, until all of America looks and behaves like the MAGA movement.

The top executive at the Smithsonian said the museum would maintain its independence and authority over exhibits and programming.⁷ But Trump doesn’t plan on accepting the Smithsonian’s independence.

We must show a mass of opposition to the Trump administration’s campaign to distort the historical record.

Sign the petition: Save the Smithsonian from Trump’s right-wing attacks!

Sources:

1. CNN Politics, "Smithsonian wrestles with independence as White House review picks up,” September 12, 2025.
2. Reuters, "Trump targets the Smithsonian again, says it focuses too much on how bad slavery was,” August 20, 2025.
3. The White House Executive Orders, “Restoring Truth and Sanity to American History,” August 27, 2025.
4. The New York Times, "White House Announces Comprehensive Review of Smithsonian Exhibitions,” August 12, 2025.
5. NBC News, "Trump had a ‘little problem with the Smithsonian’,” September 8, 2025.
6. The White House Briefings and Statements, “Letter to the Smithsonian: Internal Review of Smithsonian Exhibitions and Materials,” August 12, 2025.
7. The New York Times, "Smithsonian Responds to Trump’s Demand for a Review of Its Exhibits,” September 3, 2025.