Trump administration reportedly removing slavery references at US national parks
Trump has repeatedly criticized museums and cultural institutions for focusing heavily on slavery and racial injustice, saying in 2020 that schools and museums should emphasize “the great heritage of the United States.” During his 2016 presidential campaign, he also drew attention for saying he loved “the poorly educated.”
The Trump administration has ordered the removal or review of exhibits and signs at US national parks that reference slavery and racial inequality, the Washington Post reported, citing people familiar with the matter.
The reported actions stem from an executive order signed by former President Donald Trump in March, which directed the Interior Department to "promote patriotic education" and review federal sites and materials that, in its words, present a "corrosive ideology." The order instructed agencies to highlight themes of national progress and achievement in historical interpretation, report.
At Harpers Ferry National Historical Park in West Virginia, where abolitionist John Brown led an 1859 raid against slavery, staff were told to take down information about the uprising, two people familiar with the matter told the Post. At the President's House Site in Philadelphia, where George Washington kept enslaved workers, displays were also flagged as inconsistent with the policy, a third individual said.
Keep updated, follow The Business Standard's Google news channel
A National Park Service spokesperson confirmed that all interpretive materials are under review. "Exhibits that disproportionately emphasize negative aspects of US history or historical figures, without acknowledging broader context or national progress, can unintentionally distort understanding rather than enrich it," the spokesperson said.
Among the materials reportedly affected is the Civil War-era photograph known as "The Scourged Back," which shows the scarred back of Peter Gordon, an enslaved man who was whipped after escaping. The image, one of the most widely circulated photographs of slavery in the 19th century, has long been displayed at federal and private museums.
Trump has repeatedly criticized museums and cultural institutions for focusing heavily on slavery and racial injustice, saying in 2020 that schools and museums should emphasize "the great heritage of the United States." During his 2016 presidential campaign, he also drew attention for saying he loved "the poorly educated."
The reported review of park exhibits comes as debates over how US history is presented in classrooms and public institutions continue to divide opinion.
