TELL THE SMITHSONIAN: Trump claims that "big changes are being made at the Smithsonian" after
the White House threatened the institution's funding if it didn't align
with Trump's ideology. The Smithsonian must resist Trump's effort to
remake the historical record. Sign the petition: Don't give in to Trump's threats and let him rewrite history!
[ [link removed] ]ADD YOUR NAME
This week, Trump said "Big changes are being made at the Smithsonian"^1
after the White House threatened to strip the Smithsonian’s funding if it
didn’t change its museums to fit Trump’s far-right worldview.^2
Trump’s remarks come after the top executive at the Smithsonian said the
museum would maintain its independence and authority over exhibits and
programming.^3 Clearly, Trump does not want to accept the Smithsonian’s
independence. If he succeeds in rewriting history at the museums, it will
reach into classrooms and put Trump’s perspective directly in front of
students.^4
We must show a mass of opposition to the Trump administration’s campaign
to distort the historical record — because the White House has no plans to
stop its attacks on the Smithsonian.
[ [link removed] ]Sign the petition: Tell the Smithsonian to preserve history and stand up
to Trump’s threats!
[ [link removed] ]ADD YOUR NAME
The White House has targeted artists of color and exhibits depicting
America’s diversity. Trump even said the Smithsonian focuses too much on
"how bad slavery was."^5
Four Democratic Senators sent a letter to the Smithsonian echoing our
calls to protect the institution, and the historical record, from Trump’s
relentless "bullying."^6
One historian called the White House’s review of the Smithsonian, "a full
assault on the autonomy of all the different branches of the
institution."^7 Another historian said it’s Trump’s attempt to "put his
stamp on the way we tell the story of America."^8
Trump’s war on the Smithsonian is the frontline of his admin’s attacks on
America’s institutions. Big law firms, Big Tech companies, media
corporations, and universities have folded to Trump’s threats —
emboldening him to escalate his authoritarian tactics against any
organization, company, and institution he disagrees with. The Smithsonian
must stand strong against Trump’s threats.
[ [link removed] ]Sign the petition: Save the Smithsonian from Trump’s right-wing attacks! Thanks for taking action,
Joey and the Demand Progress team
[ [link removed] ]DONATE
Sources:
1. NBC News, "Trump had a ‘little problem with the Smithsonian’,”
[ [link removed] ]September 8, 2025.
2. Reuters, "Trump targets the Smithsonian again, says it focuses too
much on how bad slavery was,” [ [link removed] ]August 20, 2025.
3. The New York Times, "Smithsonian Responds to Trump’s Demand for a
Review of Its Exhibits,” [ [link removed] ]September 3, 2025.
4. AP, "White House’s review of Smithsonian content could reach into
classrooms nationwide,” [ [link removed] ]September 7, 2025.
5. The White House Executive Orders, “Restoring Truth and Sanity to
American History,” [ [link removed] ]August 27, 2025.
6. NPR, “Four Democratic senators urge Smithsonian to resist White House
attempts to 'bully the institution',” [ [link removed] ]September 5, 2025.
7. The New York Times, "White House Announces Comprehensive Review of
Smithsonian Exhibitions,” [ [link removed] ]August 12, 2025.
8. Democracy Now, "“Whitewashing of History”: Harvard Historian on
Trump’s Targeting of School Curricula, Smithsonian,” [ [link removed] ]August 18,
2025.
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