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How Trump’s “Excellence” Mandate for Art Echoes History’s Darkest Regimes

A European’s warning about government-controlled culture

Alexander Verbeek's avatar
Alexander Verbeek
Nov 25, 2025
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The State Department’s announcement has the subtlety of a sledgehammer. Sculptor Alma Allen will represent America at the 2026 Venice Biennale, and his exhibition will “further the Trump Administration’s focus on showcasing American excellence.”

You read that correctly: Art has become a product line requiring government approval. The same President Trump…

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