August 13, 2025
Trump orders Smithsonian to rewrite American history for political propaganda
175 years of educational independence ends as museums become state mouthpieces
🔐Ethics📚Historical Precedent🎓Education
The White House issued orders on August 13, 2025, requiring Smithsonian Institution museums to align their exhibitions with Trump administration political views, ending 175 years of educational independence. The directive affects 19 museums including the National Museum of American History and the Holocaust Memorial Museum, demanding removal of displays on slavery's legacy, LGBTQ+ rights, and climate change science that contradict Trump messaging.
White House ordered Smithsonian Institution to align all exhibitions with Trump administration political views on August 13, 2025
Directive ends 175 years of educational independence for Americas national museums since founding in 1846
19 museums affected including National Museum of American History and Holocaust Memorial Museum serving 45 million annual visitors
Orders demand removal of displays on slavery legacy, LGBTQ+ rights, and climate change science that contradict Trump messaging
Natural history museums can no longer display climate change data about rising temperatures or species extinction
Holocaust Memorial Museum faces pressure to avoid modern genocide comparisons that parallel Trump-allied regimes
Museums must now align historical exhibits with current administration political messaging rather than historical accuracy
🔐Ethics📚Historical Precedent🎓Education
People, bills, and sources
What You Can Do
1
Contact the Smithsonian Board of Regents at (202) 633-1000 demanding they resist White House political interference in museum education and maintain institutional independence
2
Call your representatives at (202) 224-3121 to demand congressional oversight of Smithsonian independence and protection from political censorship
3
Support the American Association of Museums at https://www.aam-us.org fighting for museum independence and educational integrity against political interference
4
Donate to the National Coalition Against Censorship at https://ncac.org defending cultural institutions from political interference and educational manipulation
5
Visit Smithsonian museums immediately at https://www.si.edu to see current exhibits before political censorship takes effect and document displays
6
Contact House Education and Labor Committee at (202) 225-3725 to investigate threats to educational independence and museum integrity