Trump Orders Removal of Slavery Exhibits from National Parks

President Donald Trump is reportedly directing his administration to remove photographs related to slavery from national parks and museums across the United States. The move is tied to a March 27 executive order aimed at eliminating what the administration deems “corrosive ideology” from ancient interpretations.

NEED TO KNOW

• A famous Civil War-era portrait of an enslaved man, “the Scourged Back,” is reportedly among the images slated for removal from national parks and museums under the Trump administration.
• This 1863 photograph depicts the severe whipping scars on the back of Gordon,an escaped enslaved man.
• Reports indicate that images showing signs of racial discrimination and hostility toward white people are also under review.

The directive stems from Trump’s executive order, titled “Restoring Truth and Sanity to American History,” which instructs the Interior Department to remove information that disparages historical Americans. This policy change, reported on Monday, Sept. 15, has raised concerns about the federal government’s control over historical narratives.

The administration’s interpretation of Trump’s orders is reportedly being applied broadly to materials concerning racism, sexism, slavery, gay rights, and the persecution of Indigenous people within national parks.

Jonathan Zimmerman, a professor at the University of Pennsylvania specializing in the history of education, commented that this represents a significant increase in federal power over educational content. He noted the irony, given the administration’s stance on education being a state and local matter.

Sources familiar with the matter and documents reviewed indicate that the images under scrutiny may include signs referencing racial discrimination and hostility toward white individuals.

Trump has previously voiced strong criticism of the Smithsonian Museums,labeling them “out of control” and overly “woke” for their displays on slavery. He argued in an Aug. 19 post that these institutions focus too heavily on the nation’s shortcomings and the struggles of marginalized groups, neglecting positive aspects and future potential.

He further stated his intention to instruct attorneys to review museum collections, mirroring actions taken with colleges and universities to address what he perceives as “divisive, race-centered ideology.”

Trump concluded his remarks by asserting that America “cannot be WOKE as WOKE IS BROKE.”

The March 27 order specifically directs Vice President J.D. Vance, in his capacity as a Smithsonian institution Board of Regents member, to oversee the removal of such ideology from Smithsonian museums, research centers, and the National Zoo.