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Trait: Memory is curated by power—what cannot be controlled is erased ×
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Attack target 21
Public Memory 20Culture & the Arts 9Public Service 8The Information Environment 8Truth 7LGBTQ People 6Education 5Minorities 4The Presidency 4The Environment 3Anti-Corruption Safeguards 2Science 2Separation of Powers 2The Civil Service 2The Press 2Transparency 2Climate Cooperation 1Public Health 1Rule of Law 1The Idea of America 1The Military 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
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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May 28, 2026 The Trump administration proposed a $250 bill bearing Donald Trump's portrait and reassigned an official who objected Tier 1 · Primary Power and Authority
The proposal paired personal glorification with pressure on a dissenting official, raising concerns about executive power being used for symbolic self-promotion.
Independently corroborated by4 independent news desks
Supporting reportingSurfacings — do not carry alone
Supporting reports
- Trump Administration Proposes $250 Bill with Trump's Portrait — The Trump administration has proposed a new $250 bill featuring Donald Trump's portrait, despite federal law prohibiting living individuals on U.S.
Attacks
Verified: Tier 1 primary record
Week 71 – 2026-05-23–2026-05-29
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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.
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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Mar 25, 2026 President Trump proposed major changes to Washington's architecture and monuments Tier 1 · Primary Power and Authority
The plan used executive influence over public space to project personal symbolism through national civic design.
Independently corroborated by2 independent news desks
Supporting reportingSurfacings — do not carry alone
Supporting reports
- Trump Plans Major Changes to Washington Architecture — Trump proposed significant alterations to Washington D.C.'s architecture, including a 90,000-square-foot ballroom and a 250-foot arch, which critics argue would overshadow historic landmarks.
Verified: Tier 1 primary record
Week 62 – 2026-03-21–2026-03-27
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Feb 10, 2026 The Trump administration removed the Pride flag from the Stonewall national monument under a new flag-display policy Tier 1 · Primary Power and Authority
The action used federal control of public space to limit symbolic recognition of a marginalized community and shape official memory.
Independently corroborated by1 independent news desk
Supporting reportingSurfacings — do not carry alone
Supporting reports
- Trump administration removes LGBTQ+ Pride flag from Stonewall national monument — The Trump administration removed a large LGBTQ+ Pride flag from the Stonewall national monument in New York City.
Verified: Tier 1 primary record
Week 56 – 2026-02-07–2026-02-13
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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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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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Nov 3, 2025 President Trump ordered the demolition of the White House East Wing for a ballroom project Tier 1 · Primary Power and Authority
The order redirected symbolic and institutional White House space toward a personal project, showing discretionary use of presidential power over civic assets.
Independently corroborated by5 independent news desks
Supporting reportingSurfacings — do not carry alone
Supporting reports
- Demolition of the White House East Wing — President Donald Trump ordered the demolition of the White House East Wing to make space for a $300 million ballroom.
Attacks
Verified: Tier 1 primary record
Week 42 – 2025-11-01–2025-11-07
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Oct 25, 2025 President Trump demolished the White House East Wing and advanced a donor-backed ballroom project without normal planning approval. Tier 1 · Primary Power and Authority
The project showed personal use of presidential power over public space and weakened normal oversight of federal property and historical assets.
Independently corroborated by2 independent news desks
Supporting reportingSurfacings — do not carry alone
Supporting reports
- Demolition of the White House East Wing for Ballroom Construction — President Donald Trump has demolished the East Wing of the White House to make way for a new $300 million ballroom.
- Trump remodels White House East Wing — President Trump has initiated a rapid remodeling of the White House East Wing, including the construction of a new ballroom.
- Trump plans to bulldoze East Wing of the White House for personal use — Trump reportedly plans to bulldoze the East Wing of the White House to construct a personal ballroom, a decision defended by Bessent as a "judgment call" by the president.
Verified: Tier 1 primary record
Week 41 – 2025-10-25–2025-10-31
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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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Sep 5, 2025 President Trump signed an executive order rebranding the Department of Defense as the Department of War Tier 1 · Primary Power and Authority
The order used executive symbolism to recast a major military institution without Congress, testing limits on unilateral control over state identity.
Primary sourceA record that carries the claim alone
Independently corroborated by4 independent news desks
Supporting reportingSurfacings — do not carry alone
Supporting reports
- Trump expected to order rebrand of Pentagon as ‘Department of War’ — President Donald Trump is anticipated to sign an executive order authorizing the rebranding of the US Department of Defense to the "Department of War." This move aims to formalize the name change without requiring
- Trump signs executive order rebranding Pentagon as Department of War — On September 5, 2025, Donald Trump signed an executive order to rebrand the Department of Defense as the Department of War.
- Executive Order: Restoring the United States Department of War — On September 5, 2025, President Donald Trump issued an executive order to restore the name "Department of War" for the Department of Defense.
Attacks
Verified: Tier 1 primary record
Week 33 – 2025-08-30–2025-09-05
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Aug 28, 2025 President Trump issued an order favoring classical styles for federal buildings Tier 1 · Primary Power and Authority
The order used executive authority to shape civic symbolism and the visual language of government space from the top down.
Primary sourceA record that carries the claim alone
Supporting reportingSurfacings — do not carry alone
Supporting reports
- Executive Order: Making Federal Architecture Beautiful Again — On August 28, 2025, President Donald Trump issued an executive order titled "Making Federal Architecture Beautiful Again." The order mandates that federal public buildings should primarily use classical and traditional
Verified: Tier 1 primary record
Week 32 – 2025-08-23–2025-08-29
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Aug 13, 2025 The Trump administration sent the Smithsonian a letter ordering review of exhibitions for political alignment Tier 1 · Primary Power and Authority
The intervention used executive influence to pressure a public cultural institution to conform to an official historical narrative.
Primary sourceA record that carries the claim alone
Supporting reportingSurfacings — do not carry alone
Supporting reports
- Administration reviews Smithsonian exhibitions — The Trump administration sent a letter to Dr.
- Trump administration reviews Smithsonian exhibitions for political alignment
Attacks
Verified: Tier 1 primary record
Week 30 – 2025-08-09–2025-08-15
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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 by5 independent news desks
The New York Times · BBC · Politico · PBS · NBC News
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 12, 2025 President Trump took control of the Kennedy Center after removing its leadership Tier 1 · Primary Power and Authority
The takeover showed direct political intervention in a major cultural institution and threatened its independence from partisan control.
Independently corroborated by4 independent news desks
Supporting reportingSurfacings — do not carry alone
Supporting reports
- Trump Seizes Control of Kennedy Center — In February 2025, President Donald Trump took control of the Kennedy Center by removing its former chair and firing its longtime president.
Attacks
Verified: Tier 1 primary record
Week 21 – 2025-06-07–2025-06-13
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Jun 8, 2025 President Trump announced a National Garden of American Heroes Corroborated Power and Authority
The project used presidential power to promote an official historical narrative through a federally backed symbolic program.
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: Corroborated — 2+ independent news desks
Week 21 – 2025-06-07–2025-06-13
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Jun 3, 2025 Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth ordered the Navy to remove Harvey Milk's name from a ship Corroborated Power and Authority
The order used executive control over military symbols to reshape official recognition of a marginalized public figure.
Independently corroborated by3 independent news desks
Military.com · NPR · The Hill
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: Corroborated — 2+ independent news desks
Week 20 – 2025-05-31–2025-06-06
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May 7, 2025 The Trump administration kept Voice of America shut down under a March executive order Tier 1 · Primary Power and Authority
The continued shutdown showed direct executive power over a public media institution and weakened an established channel for independent state-funded journalism.
Independently corroborated by4 independent news desks
The New York Times · BBC · PBS · ABC News
Supporting reportingSurfacings — do not carry alone
Supporting reports
- Executive Order Shuts Down VoA Operations — An executive order signed by Donald Trump in mid-March has effectively shut down Voice of America (VoA) operations, taking them off the air and offline.
- Trump Administration's Executive Order Shuts Down Voice of America — In March, former President Donald Trump signed an executive order to dismantle the US Agency for Global Media (USAGM), effectively shutting down Voice of America (VoA) and placing 1,300 employees on administrative leave.
Verified: Tier 1 primary record
Week 16 – 2025-05-03–2025-05-09
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Apr 28, 2025 The Trump administration dismissed nearly 400 contributors to the National Climate Assessment Tier 1 · Primary Power and Authority
Removing scientists from a congressionally mandated assessment used executive power to weaken an official basis for public policy and preparedness.
Independently corroborated by4 independent news desks
The New York Times · Reuters · NPR · CBS News
Supporting reportingSurfacings — do not carry alone
Supporting reports
- Trump Administration Dismisses Scientists from Climate Assessment — The Trump administration informed nearly 400 scientists they would no longer contribute to the National Climate Assessment, a congressionally mandated report.
- Trump administration dismisses contributors to climate report — The Trump administration has dismissed nearly 400 contributors to the sixth National Climate Assessment (NCA), a key US government study on climate crisis preparedness.
Verified: Tier 1 primary record
Week 15 – 2025-04-26–2025-05-02
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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.
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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Mar 31, 2025 The Trump administration reviewed $9 billion in federal grants and contracts for Harvard University Tier 1 · Primary Power and Authority
The review used federal funding leverage to pressure a university over campus policy, extending executive influence over academic institutions beyond Columbia.
Independently corroborated by4 independent news desks
Supporting reportingSurfacings — do not carry alone
Supporting reports
- Trump Administration Reviews $9 Billion in Grants to Harvard — The Trump administration is reviewing approximately $9 billion in federal grants and contracts for Harvard University, citing concerns about the institution's efforts to combat antisemitism.
- Trump Administration Reviews Federal Funding for Harvard University — The Trump administration announced a review of $9 billion in federal contracts and grants awarded to Harvard University, alleging the university's failure to address antisemitism on campus.
Verified: Tier 1 primary record
Week 11 – 2025-03-29–2025-04-04
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Mar 29, 2025 The Trump administration canceled $400 million in federal funding to Columbia University and pressed the university to restrict pro-Palestinian activity and place an academic department under outside control Corroborated Power and Authority
The administration used federal money to force changes in campus speech, protest rules, and academic governance, testing the line between civil-rights enforcement and political control of universities.
Supporting reportingSurfacings — do not carry alone
Supporting reports
- Columbia University adopts measures against pro-Palestinian activity — Columbia University announced it would comply with demands from the Trump administration to implement measures against pro-Palestinian activity on campus.
- Trump administration cancels $400 million in federal funding to Columbia University — The Trump administration canceled $400 million in federal funding to Columbia University, primarily affecting scientific research.
Verified: Corroborated — 2+ independent news desks
Week 11 – 2025-03-29–2025-04-04
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Mar 29, 2025 President Trump issued an executive order targeting the Smithsonian Institution's exhibits and educational content Tier 1 · Primary Power and Authority
The order used presidential power to shape how public institutions present race and history, expanding executive influence over cultural memory and federally supported speech.
Independently corroborated by2 independent news desks
Supporting reportingSurfacings — do not carry alone
Supporting reports
- Trump administration issues executive order targeting the Smithsonian Institution — The Trump administration has issued an executive order aimed at reshaping the Smithsonian Institution, criticizing it for promoting what it describes as "improper, divisive or anti-American ideology." The order
Verified: Tier 1 primary record
Week 11 – 2025-03-29–2025-04-04
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Mar 27, 2025 President Trump signed executive orders targeting historical and cultural institutions under anti-DEI and history directives Tier 1 · Primary Power and Authority
The orders used federal authority to reshape public memory, museum content, and official history around ideological goals.
Primary sourceA record that carries the claim alone
Independently corroborated by1 independent news desk
Supporting reportingSurfacings — do not carry alone
Supporting reports
- Executive Order: Restoring Truth and Sanity to American History — On March 27, 2025, President Donald Trump issued an executive order titled "Restoring Truth and Sanity to American History." The order aims to counter what it describes as a revisionist movement that distorts American
- Executive Order Targets DEI Initiatives — On March 27, 2025, an executive order was issued by former President Trump aimed at dismantling diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives.
- Trump issues executive order targeting Smithsonian funding for 'improper ideology' — President Donald Trump issued an executive order directing the removal of what his administration deems "improper, divisive, or anti-American ideology" from the Smithsonian Institution.
Verified: Tier 1 primary record
Week 10 – 2025-03-22–2025-03-28
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