Just 100 days into Donald Trump’s second term as U.S. President, the American cultural landscape has undergone a profound transformation. The new administration has launched what many see as a systematic campaign of censorship aimed at silencing artists, erasing diversity from public discourse, and weakening freedom of expression.
From exhibition cancellations and drastic funding cuts to book bans and the intimidation of artists who express political views or represent identities outside the dominant narrative, the arts in the United States appear to be under siege. Perhaps most alarming is that this repression is not limited to the content being created — it threatens the very existence of those who create it.
One of the most striking examples: the American Art Museum in Washington, D.C., canceled two scheduled exhibitions dedicated to Black and LGBTQ artists after federal funding was pulled. The National Endowment for the Arts also scrapped its “Challenge America” program, which supported artistic projects in socially, racially, or geographically marginalized communities. It has since revised its grant criteria to align with the new administration’s directives.
Similarly, the Smithsonian Institution and the National Gallery of Art have shut down their offices focused on diversity, equity, and inclusion, following an executive order labeling such initiatives “illegal and immoral.”
Rising Fear and Intimidation
Adding to the climate of fear, the Trump administration has signaled its intention to reinstate strict travel restrictions. As a result, artists from Muslim-majority countries or Latin American nations are now hesitant to travel abroad, afraid they may not be allowed back into the U.S.
Daily threats have become a harsh reality for many artists. Lawsuits, censorship, and even acts of physical violence have been reported. Increasingly, creators whose work touches on topics like immigration or social inclusion fear they will be blacklisted and denied platforms to exhibit or perform.
Further fueling concern are executive orders already in place allowing for the dismissal of educators and public servants who do not align ideologically with the administration. The broader goal of this cultural clampdown appears to be the total control of narratives related to history, identity, and any criticism of Trump’s political agenda.
Pockets of Resistance
Still, some believe silence is not the only response. Despite the sense of despair and the mounting pressure, quiet forms of resistance are emerging. Unlike the widespread public protests that marked Trump’s first term — such as the 2017 Women’s March, one of the largest demonstrations in U.S. history — the opposition today is more discreet, less visible, and shaped by a pervasive sense of fear and normalized violence.
What the future holds for artistic freedom in the United States remains uncertain. But one thing is clear: artists’ voices must not be silenced. Art has always served as resistance, memory, foresight, and hope — and now, more than ever, its role is critical.
