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!

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.

Sign the petition: Tell the Smithsonian to preserve history and stand up to Trump’s threats!

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.

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

Thanks for taking action,

Joey and the Demand Progress team

Sources:

  1. NBC News, "Trump had a ‘little problem with the Smithsonian’,” September 8, 2025.
  2. Reuters, "Trump targets the Smithsonian again, says it focuses too much on how bad slavery was,” August 20, 2025.
  3. The New York Times, "Smithsonian Responds to Trump’s Demand for a Review of Its Exhibits,” September 3, 2025.
  4. AP, "White House’s review of Smithsonian content could reach into classrooms nationwide,” September 7, 2025.
  5. The White House Executive Orders, “Restoring Truth and Sanity to American History,” August 27, 2025.
  6. NPR, “Four Democratic senators urge Smithsonian to resist White House attempts to 'bully the institution',” September 5, 2025.
  7. The New York Times, "White House Announces Comprehensive Review of Smithsonian Exhibitions,” August 12, 2025.
  8. Democracy Now, "“Whitewashing of History”: Harvard Historian on Trump’s Targeting of School Curricula, Smithsonian,” August 18, 2025.

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