Dreading 2026: A Nation's History Under Siege
The countdown to America's 250th anniversary has begun, and with it comes the ominous specter of propaganda. The Trump administration is gearing up to celebrate this milestone in history, but at what cost? One can't help but wonder if the nation's rich heritage will be reduced to a simplistic, sanitized narrative designed to whip patriotic fervor among its citizens.
The White House has entered into a partnership with PragerU, a far-right media platform notorious for peddling extremist ideologies, to create an "educational" exhibit that promises to reinvigorate America's origins story. The PragerU Founders Museum, located on the first floor of the Eisenhower Executive Office Building, boasts 82 historical paintings depicting key figures and events from the American Revolution.
But what sets this exhibit apart is not its artistic merit or educational value but rather its dubious affiliations. This is not a university, nor is it the esteemed Smithsonian Institution. Instead, PragerU, an organization with a long history of promoting conservative dogma and anti-intellectualism, has been entrusted with shaping America's national narrative.
The exhibit features QR codes linking to short videos or essays produced by PragerU, which will be disseminated to schools, community centers, and online platforms. This is where the true significance of this partnership lies: it's not about education but about propaganda. The Trump administration aims to create a sanitized version of American history that ignores the complexities and nuances of our nation's past.
But what does this tell us about the America we're celebrating? Social justice advocates have expressed alarm at the exclusion of marginalized voices, women, and LGBTQ+ individuals from this narrative. "This exhibit promotes a limited view of all that America is, was, and will be," said Robert Kesten, executive director of Stonewall National Museum, Archives, & Library.
The partnership with PragerU has been met with skepticism by many in the academic community. Omekongo Dibinga, a professor of intercultural communications affiliated with American University's Antiracist Research and Policy Center, described PragerU videos as "ignorant and disrespectful." He added that their goal is to erase non-White male history and spread propaganda to their 3.37 million followers.
The implications of this exhibit are far-reaching. By partnering with a far-right media platform, the Trump administration is effectively promoting a narrow, Christian nationalist view of American history. This is not the inclusive, diverse narrative that our nation should celebrate but rather one that seeks to erase the experiences of marginalized communities.
As we approach the 250th anniversary of America's founding, it's essential to ask ourselves: what kind of history do we want to tell? Do we want a sanitized, patriotic narrative or one that acknowledges the complexities and nuances of our nation's past? The answer lies in the choices we make now.