The President’s House Site in Philadelphia stands on sacred ground—not just because it was once the home of George Washington, but because it finally told the long-silenced story of the nine people he enslaved while serving as President.

Now, the Trump administration plans to "substantially alter" this public exhibit—removing or changing displays that confront the brutal realities of slavery. These changes come under an executive order calling for a “restoration” of American history to reflect so-called “shared national values.” But who gets to decide which values are shared? And who is left out when hard truths are scrubbed from our monuments?

The President’s House Site was created through years of advocacy by Black historians, community leaders, and everyday Philadelphians. Their fight ensured that our national parks didn't just celebrate the founding fathers—but also acknowledged the people they enslaved. Removing these stories now, just before the United States’ 250th anniversary, is more than a political decision. It’s an insult to truth, to dignity, and to the descendants of those nine individuals whose names and lives still matter.

History is not comfortable. But honest history is what helps us grow stronger—not sanitized myths. The Park Service must reject any attempt to rewrite the past to suit one man’s agenda.

We call on the National Park Service and the Department of the Interior to preserve every panel, every image, and every word at the President’s House that tells the truth about slavery. This is not about left or right—it’s about right and wrong.

Let the full story be told.
Let the memory of the enslaved remain.
Let history stand, uncensored.

Photo: Joe Lamberti / Philadelphia Inquirer