The former head of New York's Museum of Modern Art has warned America's private museums they could face the same pressure from the White House that has been aimed at publicly funded institutions such as the Smithsonian.
Glenn Lowry, who ran MoMA for 30 years until stepping down in 2025, told the Guardian they could be threatened with losing their valuable tax-exempt status unless they do more to reflect the government's stance against what it says has been "a concerted and widespread effort to rewrite our Nation's history".
He said: "Theoretically they can’t do it. But the mere threat acts as a form of pressure. Institutions might start to self-censor, and that is a very real risk."
His comments come as the New York Times reports the Smithsonian is facing an ultimatum from the White House to comply with a review of its content and plans or risk budget cuts.
President Trump has repeatedly criticized the museum, in one case effectively forcing the resignation of National Portrait Gallery director Kim Sajet by demanding she be sacked.
A recent White House letter to Smithsonian secretary Lonnie Bunch pointedly reminded him its budget is largely derived from federal funding.
It told him: "The American people will have no patience for any museum that is diffident about America’s founding or otherwise uncomfortable conveying a positive view of American history."