A federal judge ordered the Trump administration to restore a historical exhibit at the President’s House site in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, recognizing the story of nine slaves of former President George Washington, who resided in the city between 1790 and 1797, when it was the capital of the United States. The “Freedom and Slavery in the Making of a New Nation” exhibit was removed in January as a result of President Donald Trump‘s executive order, “Restoring Truth and Sanity to American History.”
After its removal, the city filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration, claiming the federal government lacked the authority to order its removal because of prior agreements between Philadelphia and the federal government, WPVI reported.
Federal District Judge Cynthia Rufe ruled that the exhibit’s removal, which told an account of the slaves’ lives, denied Philadelphia and Independence National Historical Park the opportunity “to honestly and accurately tell the story of its own history.”
“Each person who visits the President’s House and does not learn of the realities of founding-era slavery receives a false account of this country’s history,” Rufe said.
Rufe also referenced George Orwell’s 1984 when explaining her decision.
“As if the Ministry of Truth in George Orwell’s 1984 now existed, with its motto ‘Ignorance is Strength,’ this Court is now asked to determine whether the federal government has the power it claims — to dissemble and disassemble historical truths when it has some domain over historical facts,” Rufe said. “It does not.”
She also explained the legal basis for her decision, specifically noting earlier legislation that restricted the Trump administration’s “limited” authority to “unilaterally alter or control” the presence of exhibits in Independence National Historical Park.
“The government can convey a different message without restraint elsewhere if it so pleases, but it cannot do so to the President’s House until it follows the law and consults with the City,” said Rufe in the ruling.
Trump’s executive order was issued in March 2025. Its objective was to remove any historical markers or displays that displayed a “false reconstruction of American history” or promoted “partisan ideology” which “inappropriately disparages Americans past or living.” He mentioned ideologically motivated historical revisionism that has tainted the nation’s history.
NATIONAL PARK SERVICE REMOVES SLAVERY EXHIBIT IN PHILADELPHIA
“This revisionist movement seeks to undermine the remarkable achievements of the United States by casting its founding principles and historical milestones in a negative light,” read Trump’s directive.
“Under this historical revision, our Nation’s unparalleled legacy of advancing liberty, individual rights, and human happiness is reconstructed as inherently racist, sexist, oppressive, or otherwise irredeemably flawed,” read the executive order. “Rather than fostering unity and a deeper understanding of our shared past, the widespread effort to rewrite history deepens societal divides and fosters a sense of national shame, disregarding the progress America has made and the ideals that continue to inspire millions around the globe.”
The Trump administration did not comment on Rufe’s ruling on Monday. However, it is expected that Rufe’s decision will be appealed.
