George Washington Memorial in Philadelphia: Information about Washington’s slaves was removed in January.Image: keystone
The administration of US President Donald Trump had information about slavery removed from exhibitions and memorials. The city of Philadelphia sued – and was now right.
Feb 17, 2026, 2:29 p.mFeb 17, 2026, 2:29 p.m
The historical facts are clear: George Washington, the first US president, was a slave owner. Only in his will did he order the release of his 123 slaves. He remained part of the slave system until his death in 1799. This is proven by numerous historical sources.
These facts apparently don’t matter to Donald Trump. In a speech in 2024, he stated that Washington probably did not own any slaves. He also criticized the fact that there was too much talk about slavery in the USA.
Trump wants to remove “divisive things”.
That’s why Trump issued a decree to “restore truth and reason to American history.” In it he ordered that “divisive things” be removed from national museums and memorials.
As a result of the decree, parts of the exhibition were removed in several locations. A memorial to George Washington in Philadelphia was also affected: the Park Service, which is subordinate to the Department of the Interior, removed references to Washington’s role as a slave owner there in January. The city then filed a lawsuit.
Federal judge
US federal judge Cynthia M. Rufe has now ordered that the exhibits and information about slavery be shown again. In a 40-page ruling, Rufe compared the removal of the exhibition in January to state mind control as described in George Orwell’s novel “1984.” The government claims the right to delete, alter or hide historical representations on publicly funded monuments, Rufe writes in her statement. This approach is reminiscent of the omnipresent surveillance in Orwell’s dystopian novel.
At the beginning of her verdict, Rufe writes that it seems as if the “Ministry of Truth” from Orwell’s novel actually exists. The court must now clarify whether the government has the authority to change historical facts. Her answer is clear: “She’s not.”
This is what Orwell’s novel “1984” is about
“1984” is a dystopian novel by George Orwell that was published in 1949. He describes a totalitarian surveillance state in 1984 in which the state controls people’s thoughts, language and even their past. The “Ministry of Truth” manipulates all historical records and adapts them to the party’s line. Thus, according to all existing records, the party always appears to be in the right.
The Park Service said in January that the exhibits were removed to ensure “accuracy, honesty and consistency with shared national values.”
Rufe’s ruling grants an immediate injunction ordering the reinstallation of 34 information panels in the Independence National Historical Park in Philadelphia. (hkl)