Trump’s Assault on History

Donald Trump’s latest power grab—his self-appointment to the board of Washington, D.C.’s National Theatre and his attack on the Smithsonian museums—is a clear attempt to reshape the narrative of American history to fit his nationalist agenda. Under the guise of “restoring truth and sanity” to American history, he is pushing a dangerous, authoritarian rewrite of the past—one that censors discussions of race, erases the country’s history of injustice, and replaces facts with propaganda.

This move is not about protecting history; it’s about controlling it. Trump, like many authoritarian leaders before him, understands that controlling the past is key to controlling the future. By targeting cultural institutions like the Smithsonian—widely respected for preserving America’s diverse and complex history—he is making it clear that any narrative that does not glorify white supremacy and American exceptionalism is under threat.

Throughout history, fascist and nationalist leaders have sought to rewrite the past to serve their political goals. From book bans to museum censorship, the goal is always the same: to erase inconvenient truths and replace them with a sanitized version of history that justifies oppression. Trump’s efforts mirror those of leaders who have sought to reshape national identity through propaganda, whether it be in Nazi Germany, Stalinist Russia, or other authoritarian regimes that use historical revisionism as a tool of control.

America’s museums, cultural institutions, and educators exist to tell the full story—not just the parts that make some people comfortable. The Smithsonian, in particular, has spent decades ensuring that American history is told with depth and accuracy, from the legacies of slavery and segregation to the ongoing struggles for civil rights and equality. By attacking these institutions, Trump is not just trying to rewrite history; he is actively silencing voices that challenge his ideology.

This is why his latest move should alarm every American. When a leader starts dictating what parts of history can and cannot be told, democracy itself is at risk. A nation that cannot confront its past honestly is doomed to repeat its mistakes. The fight for truth in history is not just about the past—it’s about the future of democracy, education, and freedom itself.

If Trump and his allies succeed in reshaping history to fit their agenda, what comes next? Will classrooms be forced to teach a whitewashed version of American history? Will historical facts that expose racism and injustice be declared “unpatriotic” and erased? These are not hypothetical questions—they are the logical next steps of a leader who sees history not as a record of truth but as a weapon of political power.

We must reject this blatant censorship and stand up for historical truth! The fight against authoritarianism begins with defending facts, upholding free speech, and ensuring that history remains in the hands of historians—not politicians.