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Trait 19
Memory is curated by power—what cannot be controlled is erased 23National history is rewritten to glorify conquest, not justice 10Textbooks and museums are altered to erase dissent and accountability 8Public funds are used for personal glorification and symbolic dominance 6Independent media is starved while state-aligned outlets thrive 3Dissenters are labeled unpatriotic, subversive, or corrupt 2Law is a weapon of the state, not a limit on its power 2Universities are pressured to suppress dissent or lose funding 2Chaos is used as a strategy to fragment focus and disable accountability 1Dissent is reframed as disorder, treason, or terrorism 1Executive power operates without effective oversight 1Government archives are sealed, sanitized, or destroyed 1Police and military are aligned with elite preservation, not public defense 1Political appointments are awarded based on loyalty and wealth 1Protest rights are abridged through zoning, permits, or security claims 1Religion is co-opted as a tool of legitimacy and control 1State power is outsourced to unaccountable private contractors 1Statues, portraits, and records of disfavored leaders are removed without process 1Transparency laws are weakened or unenforced 1
Tier 1 carried by a primary record
Corroborated 2+ independent news desks
Every result is verified and democracy-related.
Open an event to see its evidence. Attack and trait tags link to their definitions
Aug 1, 2026 Trump administration issued executive order targeting the Smithsonian Institution Corroborated Power and Authority
The administration ordered warning signs at a major museum after accusing it of political bias, raising concerns about executive control of public historical narratives.
Independently corroborated by4 independent news desks
PBS · NBC News · BBC · The Atlantic
Supporting reportingSurfacings — do not carry alone
Supporting reports
- Trump administration issues executive order targeting Smithsonian Institution — The Trump administration has escalated its conflict with the Smithsonian Institution, resulting in a report accusing the National Museum of American History of "extreme political activism" and an executive order
Verified: Corroborated — 2+ independent news desks
Week 81 – 2026-08-01–2026-08-07
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Jul 26, 2026 The White House Office of Administration began preparations to paint the Eisenhower Executive Office Building despite ongoing legal objections Tier 1 · Primary Power and Authority
The move suggested executive officials were pressing ahead on a disputed project while sidestepping ordinary oversight and preservation review.
Primary sourceA record that carries the claim alone
Supporting reports
- White House Office of Administration Begins Preparations for Painting Eisenhower Executive Office Building — On July 25, 2026, deputy assistant to the president Heather Martin filed a declaration indicating that the White House Office of Administration was starting preparations to paint the Eisenhower Executive Office
Verified: Tier 1 primary record
Week 80 – 2026-07-25–2026-07-31
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Jul 25, 2026 President Trump ordered temporary signs outside the Smithsonian National Museum of American History accusing it of inaccuracy and calling for exhibit renovation Tier 1 · Primary Power and Authority
The order used presidential power to shape public history at a national institution and steer how citizens encounter the historical record.
Primary sourceA record that carries the claim alone
Supporting reportingSurfacings — do not carry alone
Supporting reports
- Trump orders signs accusing Smithsonian of inaccuracy — On Friday, President Donald Trump ordered the Department of the Interior to display signs outside the Smithsonian National Museum of American History.
- Executive Order on Smithsonian Institution — On July 24, 2026, President Trump issued Executive Order 14415, titled "Restoring Trust in the Smithsonian Institution." The order directed the National Park Service to place temporary signage outside the Smithsonian
- Executive Order on Restoring Trust in the Smithsonian Institution — President Donald J.
Verified: Tier 1 primary record
Week 80 – 2026-07-25–2026-07-31
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Jul 13, 2026 President Trump signed proclamations shrinking Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante national monuments Tier 1 · Primary Power and Authority
The proclamations used unilateral executive power to cut land protections, disband tribal-linked stewardship, and open former monument land to extraction.
Primary sourceA record that carries the claim alone
Supporting reportingSurfacings — do not carry alone
Supporting reports
- Modifying the Bears Ears National Monument — President Donald J.
- President Trump Modifies Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument — On October 8, 2021, President Joe Biden announced the restoration of Bears Ears and Grand Staircase–Escalante National Monuments to their original sizes, reversing reductions made during the Trump administration.
- Biden restores national monuments to original size — On July 13, 2026, President Donald Trump signed two proclamations that will significantly reduce the size of Bears Ears National Monument by 91% and Grand Staircase–Escalante National Monument by approximately 90%.
Verified: Tier 1 primary record
Week 78 – 2026-07-11–2026-07-17
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Jun 27, 2026 The White House unveiled a limited-edition passport featuring President Trump's portrait Corroborated Power and Authority
Putting a sitting president on a state identity document personalized a national symbol and blurred the line between public office and leader branding.
Independently corroborated by2 independent news desks
Supporting reportingSurfacings — do not carry alone
Supporting reports
- White House unveils new 'patriot passports' featuring Trump's portrait — On June 27, 2026, the White House revealed new images of a limited-edition US passport, dubbed the "patriot passport," which features a portrait of Donald Trump.
Attacks
Verified: Corroborated — 2+ independent news desks
Week 76 – 2026-06-27–2026-07-03
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May 21, 2026 The U.S. Commission of Fine Arts approved the design for Trump's proposed triumphal arch in Washington Corroborated Power and Authority
The approval advanced a politically symbolic monument through a federal body staffed by presidential appointees, raising concerns about state-backed personal glorification.
Independently corroborated by3 independent news desks
PBS · Politico · The Atlantic
Supporting reportingSurfacings — do not carry alone
Supporting reports
- US Commission of Fine Arts Approves Designs for Trump's 250ft Arch — The US Commission of Fine Arts, composed of appointees from Donald Trump's administration, approved the designs for a 250ft triumphal arch in Washington, DC.
- U.S. Commission of Fine Arts approves design for Trump triumphal arch — The U.S.
Verified: Corroborated — 2+ independent news desks
Week 70 – 2026-05-16–2026-05-22
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Apr 28, 2026 The U.S. government announced America250 passports featuring Donald Trump's image Corroborated Power and Authority
Putting the president's image into a national identity document personalized state symbolism and blurred the line between public institutions and leader branding.
Independently corroborated by3 independent news desks
Supporting reportingSurfacings — do not carry alone
Supporting reports
- US to Issue ‘America250’ Passports Featuring Donald Trump’s Image — The United States government announced the issuance of limited-edition passports featuring a large photograph of Donald Trump on the inside cover.
Attacks
Verified: Corroborated — 2+ independent news desks
Week 67 – 2026-04-25–2026-05-01
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Mar 29, 2026 Interior Secretary Doug Burgum and the Trump administration pressed federal cultural institutions to align exhibits and historical interpretation with the president's preferred narrative Tier 1 · Primary Power and Authority
The campaign used executive authority to shape public memory and narrow how federal institutions presented slavery, impeachment, and other contested history.
Primary sourceA record that carries the claim alone
Supporting reportingSurfacings — do not carry alone
Supporting reports
- National Park Service directed to adhere to Trump's historical narrative — On May 20, 2025, Interior Secretary Doug Burgum issued an order instructing officials at all National Park Service sites to ensure that information presented adhered to President Trump's ideological demands.
- National Park Service removes displays on slavery — On May 20, 2025, Interior Secretary Doug Burgum issued an order instructing officials at all National Park Service sites to ensure that information presented aligns with President Trump's directive to avoid negative
- National Portrait Gallery alters Trump's portrait text — In January 2026, the National Park Service removed displays about the enslavement of nine Black Americans at the home of President George Washington in Philadelphia.
Attacks
Verified: Tier 1 primary record
Week 63 – 2026-03-28–2026-04-03
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Mar 26, 2026 The Treasury Department announced that President Trump's signature would appear on U.S. paper currency Corroborated Power and Authority
The change personalized a national symbol in a way that strengthened leader-centered branding through state instruments.
Independently corroborated by4 independent news desks
Supporting reportingSurfacings — do not carry alone
Supporting reports
- Trump Signature to Appear on US Currency — The US Treasury Department announced that Donald Trump's signature will appear on US paper currency, marking the first time a sitting president's signature will be on legal tender.
Attacks
Verified: Corroborated — 2+ independent news desks
Week 62 – 2026-03-21–2026-03-27
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Feb 2, 2026 Trump administration officials removed a slavery exhibit from Independence National Historical Park Tier 1 · Primary Power and Authority
The removal used executive control over public institutions to reshape national memory and limit how the state presents the country’s past.
Primary sourceA record that carries the claim alone
Supporting reports
- Removal of Exhibit on Enslavement from Independence National Historical Park — On February 1, 2026, officials in the Trump administration removed an exhibit from Independence National Historical Park in Philadelphia that acknowledged the nine enslaved individuals at the President’s House Site
Attacks
Verified: Tier 1 primary record
Week 55 – 2026-01-31–2026-02-06
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Dec 4, 2025 New York City Mayor Eric Adams issued executive orders on Israel-related divestment policy and protest regulation near houses of worship Corroborated Power and Authority
The orders used executive authority to shape both city investment choices and protest rules, affecting political expression and local policy discretion.
Independently corroborated by2 independent news desks
Supporting reportingSurfacings — do not carry alone
Supporting reports
- New York Mayor Issues Executive Orders on Israel Divestment and Protests — New York City Mayor Eric Adams signed two executive orders aimed at combating antisemitism.
Verified: Corroborated — 2+ independent news desks
Week 46 – 2025-11-29–2025-12-05
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Nov 11, 2025 The Trump administration planned a review of Smithsonian exhibits and targeted content it deemed improper Tier 1 · Primary Power and Authority
The intervention put executive power behind efforts to shape public history and pressure a national cultural institution's content choices.
Independently corroborated by4 independent news desks
Supporting reportingSurfacings — do not carry alone
Supporting reports
- Trump administration plans review of Smithsonian exhibits — In August, the Trump administration sent a letter to the Smithsonian Institution's secretary, indicating plans to review all exhibits, materials, and operations.
- Trump signs executive order targeting Smithsonian content — In March, President Trump signed an executive order directing the Smithsonian to remove content deemed "improper, divisive, or anti-American," focusing on the National Museum of African American and Culture.
Verified: Tier 1 primary record
Week 43 – 2025-11-08–2025-11-14
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Oct 19, 2025 President Trump began demolishing the White House East Wing for a ballroom Tier 1 · Primary Power and Authority
The demolition altered a historic public building through executive will, raising concerns about legal process, donor influence, and use of state property for personal legacy.
Primary sourceA record that carries the claim alone
Supporting reportingSurfacings — do not carry alone
Supporting reports
- Trump Begins Demolition of East Wing for Ballroom — Former President Donald Trump has initiated the demolition of the East Wing of the White House to construct a ballroom similar to the one at Mar-a-Lago.
- Demolition of the East Wing of the White House begins without required approval — Construction crews have begun demolishing part of the East Wing of the White House to make way for a $250 million ballroom, a project initiated by Donald Trump.
- Demolition of White House East Wing for Trump's Ballroom — Demolition crews began tearing down part of the White House's East Wing to construct a $250 million ballroom as part of Trump's long-desired project.
Attacks
Traits
Chaos is used as a strategy to fragment focus and disable accountabilityGovernment archives are sealed, sanitized, or destroyedMemory is curated by power—what cannot be controlled is erasedPublic funds are used for personal glorification and symbolic dominanceState power is outsourced to unaccountable private contractorsTransparency laws are weakened or unenforced
Verified: Tier 1 primary record
Week 40 – 2025-10-18–2025-10-24
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Oct 11, 2025 President Trump proclaimed Columbus Day with a celebratory historical narrative Corroborated Power and Authority
The proclamation used presidential authority to shape official memory and national identity, showing how executive messaging can steer public history.
Independently corroborated by4 independent news desks
Supporting reportingSurfacings — do not carry alone
Supporting reports
- Trump Declares Columbus Day a Celebration of “Original American Hero” — President Trump declared Columbus Day a celebration of the "original American hero," a move seen as an attempt to inflame cultural divisions rather than address pressing governance issues.
- President Trump Proclaims Columbus Day — On October 9, President Donald J.
Attacks
Verified: Corroborated — 2+ independent news desks
Week 39 – 2025-10-11–2025-10-17
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Oct 9, 2025 President Trump announced Columbus Day as a national holiday Corroborated Power and Authority
The declaration used executive symbolism to shape official public memory and national identity from the top down.
Independently corroborated by3 independent news desks
Supporting reportingSurfacings — do not carry alone
Supporting reports
- Trump Announces National Holiday as Columbus Day — During a cabinet meeting at the White House, President Donald Trump announced that the second Monday of October would henceforth be recognized as Columbus Day, establishing it as a national holiday.
Attacks
Verified: Corroborated — 2+ independent news desks
Week 38 – 2025-10-04–2025-10-10
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Sep 27, 2025 Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth kept Medal of Honor awards for soldiers involved in the Wounded Knee Massacre Corroborated Power and Authority
The decision used executive authority to reject historical accountability and shape official memory of state violence against Indigenous people.
Independently corroborated by3 independent news desks
Supporting reportingSurfacings — do not carry alone
Supporting reports
- Defense Secretary Hegseth announces Medal of Honor decision — On September 26, 2025, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced that twenty men awarded the Medal of Honor for their roles in the 1890 Wounded Knee Massacre would retain their medals.
Attacks
Verified: Corroborated — 2+ independent news desks
Week 37 – 2025-09-27–2025-10-03
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Jun 25, 2025 The Trump administration terminated hundreds of Voice of America employees as part of dismantling the U.S. Agency for Global Media Tier 1 · Primary Power and Authority
The firings reduced the capacity of a public broadcaster that operates at arm’s length from political power, increasing executive leverage over state-backed media institutions.
Independently corroborated by6 independent news desks
Supporting reportingSurfacings — do not carry alone
Supporting reports
- Trump administration terminates 639 employees at Voice of America — The Trump administration authorized the termination of 639 employees at Voice of America (VOA) on Friday, as part of a broader effort to dismantle the US Agency for Global Media.
Verified: Tier 1 primary record
Week 23 – 2025-06-21–2025-06-27
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Jun 20, 2025 The Trump administration terminated hundreds of Voice of America and USAGM employees Corroborated Power and Authority
The cuts sharply reduced a federally funded news network, giving the executive branch greater power over the reach and survival of public-interest journalism.
Independently corroborated by2 independent news desks
Supporting reportingSurfacings — do not carry alone
Supporting reports
- Trump administration terminates 639 employees at Voice of America — The Trump administration announced the termination of 639 employees at Voice of America (VOA) and its parent organization, the US Agency for Global Media (USAGM).
- Trump Administration Issues Layoff Notices at VOA — The Trump administration issued layoff notices to over 600 employees at Voice of America, with terminations expected by September.
Verified: Corroborated — 2+ independent news desks
Week 22 – 2025-06-14–2025-06-20
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Jun 19, 2025 Secretary Pete Hegseth ordered a passive approach to Juneteenth messaging at the Pentagon Corroborated Power and Authority
The directive used executive control over official messaging to downplay a federal holiday tied to Black emancipation and public memory.
Independently corroborated by1 independent news desk
Supporting reportingSurfacings — do not carry alone
Supporting reports
- Hegseth Orders Passive Approach to Juneteenth at Pentagon — The US defense secretary, Pete Hegseth, reportedly ordered a "passive approach" to Juneteenth messaging at the Pentagon, as per a Rolling Stone report citing a Pentagon email.
Verified: Corroborated — 2+ independent news desks
Week 22 – 2025-06-14–2025-06-20
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Jun 10, 2025 President Trump announced plans to restore Confederate base names Corroborated Power and Authority
The announcement used executive influence to reverse prior public-memory changes and re-legitimize Confederate symbolism in federal institutions.
Independently corroborated by4 independent news desks
Supporting reportingSurfacings — do not carry alone
Supporting reports
- Trump Announces Restoration of Confederate Base Names — During a speech at Fort Bragg, President Trump announced plans to restore the names of Army bases named for Confederate generals, defying Congress' decision to remove Confederate symbols.
Attacks
Verified: Corroborated — 2+ independent news desks
Week 21 – 2025-06-07–2025-06-13
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Jun 8, 2025 President Trump announced a National Garden of American Heroes Tier 1 · Primary Power and Authority
The project used presidential power to promote an official historical narrative through a federally backed symbolic program.
Independently corroborated by2 independent news desks
Supporting reportingSurfacings — do not carry alone
Supporting reports
- Trump Announces National Garden of American Heroes — President Trump announced plans to create a "National Garden of American Heroes," which will feature 250 statues to commemorate significant figures in American history.
Attacks
Verified: Tier 1 primary record
Week 21 – 2025-06-07–2025-06-13
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Jun 3, 2025 President Trump used the Boulder attack to press for harsher deportation policies Corroborated Power and Authority
The response used a violent incident to justify broader coercive immigration policy, expanding executive pressure on a vulnerable population.
Independently corroborated by1 independent news desk
Supporting reportingSurfacings — do not carry alone
Supporting reports
- Trump Administration Uses Colorado Attack to Push Deportation Agenda — Following an attack in Boulder, Colorado, by Mohamed Sabry Soliman, an Egyptian national who overstayed his tourist visa, the Trump administration has leveraged the incident to advocate for stricter deportation policies.
Verified: Corroborated — 2+ independent news desks
Week 20 – 2025-05-31–2025-06-06
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Jun 3, 2025 Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth ordered the Navy to remove Harvey Milk's name from a ship Tier 1 · Primary Power and Authority
The order used executive control over military symbols to reshape official recognition of a marginalized public figure.
Independently corroborated by7 independent news desks
Supporting reportingSurfacings — do not carry alone
Supporting reports
- US Defense Secretary Orders Renaming of USNS Harvey Milk — US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has ordered the US Navy to remove the name of Harvey Milk, a prominent gay rights activist and navy veteran, from a ship.
Verified: Tier 1 primary record
Week 20 – 2025-05-31–2025-06-06
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May 4, 2025 The Trump administration signed an executive order to cut federal funding for NPR and PBS Corroborated Power and Authority
The order used presidential power to target public broadcasters and threatened news access in communities that rely on federally supported stations.
Independently corroborated by6 independent news desks
Supporting reportingSurfacings — do not carry alone
Supporting reports
- Trump signs executive order to cut funding for public broadcasters — Former President Donald Trump issued an executive order blocking National Public Radio (NPR) and the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) from receiving taxpayer funds through the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB).
- Trump Administration Signs Executive Order to Cut Funding for NPR and PBS — In late April, the Trump administration signed an executive order to slash federal funding for NPR and PBS, accusing them of spreading "radical woke propaganda." This move is part of a broader effort to downsize the
Verified: Corroborated — 2+ independent news desks
Week 16 – 2025-05-03–2025-05-09
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Apr 7, 2025 President Trump signed an executive order targeting the Smithsonian Institution's content and programming Corroborated Power and Authority
The order used presidential power to shape national cultural memory and federal presentation of history.
Independently corroborated by5 independent news desks
BBC · NPR · NBC News · The Atlantic · National Review
Supporting reportingSurfacings — do not carry alone
Supporting reports
- Executive order targets Smithsonian Institution — In late March, President Trump signed an executive order aimed at the Smithsonian Institution, intending to remove what the administration deems "improper, divisive, or anti-American ideology" from its museums and
Attacks
Verified: Corroborated — 2+ independent news desks
Week 12 – 2025-04-05–2025-04-11
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