Demand Progress

Trump is directing his strongman threats at the Smithsonian with demands that the museums alter its content and programming to fit his dangerous worldviews.

The White House has pressured the Smithsonian to get rid of its “race-centered ideology” and said the museums focus too much on “how bad slavery was.” ^1,2 The Smithsonian remains one of the largest and most important stalwarts in protecting the independence of information, education, and the arts from Trump.

Trump has made drastic cuts to the National Endowment of the Arts and Corporation for Public Broadcasting, pressured big news companies to fall in line, and taken control of the Kennedy Center. ³ Now, the White House is threatening the Smithsonian’s funding if it doesn’t give in to Trump’s “anti-woke” crusade and allow a MAGA rewrite of history. ⁴ The decision-makers at the Smithsonian must stand strong against Trump’s attacks.

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

The American Historical Association reports that 80% of history teachers use free resources from federal museums, archives, and institutions like the Smithsonian.⁵

Speaking on the value of online resources from the Smithsonian and other federal museums, one teacher said, “That’s been one of the most influential and profoundly important ways that the federal government has invested in social studies education over the last couple of decades.”⁶ Now, imagine that these teachers can only use materials written by the MAGA movement.

Trump said recently that “big changes are being made at the Smithsonian.”⁷ He and his MAGA lackeys want to hide the painful parts of America’s past and spread right-wing propaganda through the nation’s premier museums. The Smithsonian must remain steadfast against the White House and protect history.

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

Sources:

1. The White House Executive Orders, “Restoring Truth and Sanity to American History,” August 27, 2025.
2. The New York Times, "White House Announces Comprehensive Review of Smithsonian Exhibitions,” August 12, 2025.
3. Vox, "The last time the US waged a propaganda war on the arts,” September 16, 2025.
4. Reuters, "Trump targets the Smithsonian again, says it focuses too much on how bad slavery was,” August 20, 2025.
5. The LA Times, "White House review of Smithsonian content could reach into classrooms nationwide,” September 16, 2025.
6. Ibid.
7. NBC News, "Trump had a ‘little problem with the Smithsonian’,” September 8, 2025.