US Museum Trust Scores Rise Across Political Spectrum
Each year, researchers collaborate with museums to identify the public's most trusted information sources across 10 categories. Museums ranked just behind friends and public libraries, which tied for the top spot. They surpassed the public's trust levels for researchers and scientists, local and national news organizations, and the United States government.
On a scale of 1 (least trustworthy) to 10 (most trustworthy), conservative respondents gave museums an average score of 7.3, an increase over their ratings in 2021 and 2025. Moderate participants showed a similar upward trend, assigning a score of 7.2, which represents a 0.6 point increase from the 2021 figure. Liberal participants rated museums at 7.8, matching last year's average and slightly exceeding their 2021 rating.
Susie Wilkening, principal of Wilkening Consulting and the survey's lead author, told Hyperallergic,“People generally do not want political interference in museum content. It can be perceived from all parts of the political spectrum, particularly with what's happening with the Smithsonian.” This comment references former President Donald Trump's intensified criticisms of the Smithsonian, including accusations of promoting“extreme political activism” and attempts to alter its historical presentations. Following threats to cut federal funding, Trump proposed one of the lowest budgets for the institution in a decade. Amid these developments, Smithsonian Secretary Lonnie Bunch announced his resignation, effective at the end of the year.
Source: Hyperallergic
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