A recent Reuters/Ipsos poll revealed that two-thirds of Americans disagree with the notion that the president should control the nation’s museums and theaters. The six-day survey, which concluded on April 21, polled 4,306 U.S. adults on various issues, including President Trump’s performance, immigration policy, federal court rulings, and university funding.
The poll results indicated that 66% of respondents, spanning both political parties, opposed the idea of presidential oversight of cultural institutions. However, opinions diverged sharply along party lines. Among Republicans, 26% approved of the president’s potential control over museums and theaters, while 49% disagreed, and 25% did not respond. Conversely, 86% of Democrats rejected presidential influence on these cultural institutions, with only 6% in agreement, and 8% not responding.
In addition to questions about cultural institutions, the poll also found that over half of the respondents— including a third of Republicans— disapproved of efforts by the government to defund universities based on the president’s views on institutional operations.
The poll results come amid the Trump administration’s ongoing efforts to assert influence over federally funded arts and cultural organizations, such as the Smithsonian Institution. Recent executive orders target the removal of critical race theory, inclusive gender concepts, and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion initiatives from these institutions. Additionally, the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), led by Elon Musk, recently met with leaders of the National Gallery of Art regarding its “legal status,” sparking concerns about the museum’s nonprofit classification.
Since January, Trump’s administration has also overseen the termination of hundreds of federal grants for arts organizations and the dismissal of numerous staff members at the Institute for Museum and Library Services. Meanwhile, the administration seeks to redirect cultural funding toward a nationalistic sculpture garden. Further tightening its influence, the White House has attempted to exert pressure on prestigious higher education institutions like Harvard and Columbia universities, threatening to withhold federal funding. Columbia recently agreed to Trump’s demands, including placing its Middle Eastern Studies department under oversight.
The findings from the Reuters/Ipsos poll follow the release of another significant survey, Bright Line Watch, which revealed concerns among political science scholars that the U.S. is drifting away from liberal democracy and toward an authoritarian system.
