Trump’s Latest Attempt to Rewrite History Needs A Rewrite—So I Got Out My Hot Pink Pen

Trump’s latest Executive Order is yet another attempt at rewriting history to fit his authoritarian agenda. This time, he’s going after the Smithsonian, national parks, and historic sites, demanding they eliminate anything he deems “divisive” (translation: discussions of racism, sexism, inequality, or anything that challenges his sanitized version of American exceptionalism). The order blocks funding for exhibits that address systemic oppression, pushes for the restoration of controversial monuments, and ensures that the upcoming 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence reflects his preferred narrative.

He’s also reviving his pet project, the National Garden of American Heroes, and doubling down on the idea that “real” American history should be about “pride,” not facts. This is yet another move to enforce state-sponsored mythology over actual history—and we all know where that road leads. The “memory laws” that Timothy Snyder wrote about in his New York Times piece: The War on History Is a War on Democracy.

So, I took out my hot pink pen and made a few corrections to Section 1 of Trump’s latest Executive Order on American History.

Turns out it needed quite a few edits—because their 1930s-style fascist rewrite doesn’t quite align with our democratic standards.

Note: I edited these a bit from the original late night edits I did last night.

📜 Slide 2: A more accurate telling of American history requires a richer, more inclusive narrative—one driven by truth, complexity, and the full scope of our past, not just a whitewashed version:

📜 Slide 3: Recent historiography frees us from the constraints of a narrow, sanitized national story. It embraces multiple perspectives and acknowledges both progress and setbacks in our ongoing democratic experiment. It also examines how interpretations of democracy itself have evolved over time:

📜 Slide 4: American history is studied through the lens of our pursuit of liberty, rights, and equality—highlighting both the moments we’ve moved closer to these ideals and the times we’ve fallen short. No one is teaching that the U.S. is inherently racist, sexist, or oppressive. What is taught is that we are a stronger nation when we strive for equity and justice—outcomes shaped by the choices we make:

📜 Slide 5: The only ones rewriting history are the Trump administration. They’re working to erase the progressive achievements of the 20th and 21st centuries:

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📜 Slide 6: Globally, America has been known as a beacon of freedom, progress, and opportunity. The Trump administration, however, is fueling division through culture wars while actively dismantling the democracy on which this nation was built:

History isn’t just about the past—it’s about the story we tell ourselves about who we are as a nation and a people. Right now, Trump and his allies are doing everything they can to rewrite that story to serve their own white supremacist authoritarian agenda.

We can’t let them.

If you appreciate my work pushing back against this historical gaslighting, consider a paid subscription to Yo, Miss! and support independent voices fighting to keep the truth alive.

Because history matters. And so does who gets to tell it. 🖊️📚🔥