‘We know the truth’: Philadelphians fight Trump’s erasure of history
Summary
The National Park Service removed panels about enslaved Africans at the President’s House in Philadelphia following an executive order by President Donald Trump. This action sparked legal battles and protests, as local activists and the city want to preserve the full history of slavery linked to the US founders.Key Facts
- The President’s House in Philadelphia had panels honoring nine enslaved Africans who served George Washington in the 1790s.
- On January 22, 2026, the National Park Service removed 34 panels from the site; about half remain in storage.
- The removal followed President Trump’s March 2025 executive order aimed at revising some historical displays.
- Philadelphia sued the federal government to restore the panels, winning a temporary court order.
- Appeals allowed the Trump administration to install new panels that some say whitewash history.
- Activists and residents have held rallies and petitions to keep the original exhibit.
- The controversy increased public interest and visitor numbers at the site.
- An advocacy group called Avenging the Ancestors Coalition helped build the original memorial, opening in 2010.
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