Inside Trump’s Culture War Over How America Tells Its Story | WSJ

Reshaping American Culture: The Trump Influence

Key Concepts:

• Wokeness: A term used, often critically, to describe an awareness of social injustices, particularly those related to race and discrimination.
• MAGA (Make America Great Again): The slogan and associated movement supporting Donald Trump’s political agenda, emphasizing a return to traditional American values.
• Cultural Battlefield: The idea that cultural institutions (museums, sports, media) are arenas where competing ideologies clash.
• National Identity: The collective sense of belonging and shared values that define a nation.
• Coarsening of Political Conversation: The perceived decline in civility and increase in aggressive rhetoric in political discourse.

I. The Cultural Shift & AmericaFest

Donald Trump’s influence extends beyond governmental policy and is actively reshaping American culture. He asserts that “wokeness” has negatively impacted institutions like museums, sports, and youth education. This is manifested in efforts to reinstate a national identity rooted in past eras. A key example of this cultural shift is AmericaFest, an annual event organized by Turning Point, which blends a political rally with an influencer convention. This event gathers conservative influencers with substantial online followings, actively promoting Trump’s vision of America to younger demographics through online platforms.

Benny Johnson, a popular conservative commentator at AmericaFest, articulated a core belief of this movement: “Young men know in their bones that they want to get married, start families, own property, have a life, and seize the American dream. What young men and women want is an American future for Americans.” This sentiment highlights a desire for traditional values and a focus on national interests.

II. Declining Youth Support & Trump’s Digital Strategy

Despite efforts to connect with younger voters through mediums like memes and videos, recent polls indicate a decline in support for Trump among those under 30, with 60% or more expressing disapproval of his job performance. This suggests a disconnect between Trump’s messaging and the priorities of younger generations.

However, Trump successfully leveraged the internet during his initial election, utilizing platforms like YouTube and podcasts, alongside appearances at events like the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), to reach his base. He is continuing this strategy, exemplified by plans to host a UFC event on the White House lawn for America’s 250th birthday.

III. The UFC & Dana White: A Case Study in Alignment

The relationship between Trump and Dana White, CEO of the UFC, exemplifies the alignment between Trump’s vision and certain aspects of American culture. White recounts how Trump provided a venue for the UFC when it faced bans due to perceived violence, offering space at the Taj Mahal casino. He describes Trump as “the most resilient human being” he’s ever met, a “fighter” who “loves this country.”

White emphasizes the UFC’s embodiment of the American dream: “This is a place where you can come and have nothing and you can build an incredible life for yourself. And everybody has the opportunity to live the American dream here.” He dismisses concerns about the optics of bringing combat sports to the White House, asserting that “fighting has always been a part of not just American culture, but world culture.”

IV. Sports as a Cultural Battlefield & Museum Narratives

Trump is actively intervening in the cultural sphere of sports, advocating for the Washington DC football team to revert to its former name, the Redskins. Furthermore, figures within the MAGA movement have expressed discontent with the NFL’s selection of Bad Bunny, a critic of mass deportations, for the Super Bowl Halftime Show.

Beyond sports, Trump is challenging the narratives presented in cultural institutions, particularly museums. He believes museums have become overly focused on racial injustice, neglecting the celebration of American successes and the pursuit of freedom. He states, “We want the museums to talk about the history of our country in a fair manner, not in a woke manner or in a racist manner.”

V. The Smithsonian & the Debate Over Historical Representation

The National Museum of African-American History and Culture is specifically cited as a museum attracting the President’s attention. Michael Gonzalez, a senior fellow at the Heritage Foundation, explains that museums have shifted from “preserving the national inheritance” to becoming “a place of resistance” that frames America as a conflict between the oppressed and the oppressor.

Gonzalez argues that there is “completely too much” focus on race and that the goal should be to “make race less salient in our society.” He criticizes the ideological framing of American history, stating that the Smithsonian’s museums should present “the story of America” rather than a narrative centered on marginalized groups. Trump has specifically criticized exhibitions on White privilege, LGBTQ history, and immigration, accusing them of rewriting American history.

VI. Conclusion: A Battle Over National Identity

The ongoing cultural shifts, exemplified by events like AmericaFest, Trump’s engagement with the UFC, and his critiques of museum narratives, demonstrate a broader “fight over national identity.” As America approaches its 250th birthday, the debate over how to tell the story of America will continue to intensify, shaping the nation’s cultural landscape and its understanding of its own history. The core tension lies between those advocating for a more inclusive and critical examination of the past and those seeking to restore a more traditional and celebratory vision of American identity.