Millions March Against Trump's Rewrite of American History

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In a massive nationwide protest, millions of Americans have turned out for over 3,100 'No Kings' events across the country to reject the Trump administration's attempts to rewrite American history and erase the nation's complicated past of struggle toward multicultural democracy. The protests come in response to Trump's executive order last year directing federal agencies to remove any content that 'inappropriately disparages Americans' and instead focus on 'the greatness of the achievements and progress of the American people.'

Why it matters

The Trump administration's efforts to reshape the historical narrative by removing exhibits and information related to topics like slavery, Native American displacement, and climate change at national parks and Smithsonian museums have sparked widespread outrage and a grassroots movement to preserve the truth of America's past. This battle over the nation's history reflects a broader struggle over the country's identity and values.

The details

Since issuing the 'Restoring Truth and Sanity to American History' executive order last year, the Trump administration has taken steps to remove or alter exhibits at various federal sites, including the National Park Service and Smithsonian Institution. This has included taking down displays about the enslavement of Black Americans at George Washington's home, removing references to Trump's impeachments and election loss from his presidential portrait, and flagging exhibits on topics like sea level rise and Native American displacement as 'inappropriately disparaging.'

• On March 27, 2025, President Trump issued the 'Restoring Truth and Sanity to American History' executive order.
• In May 2025, Interior Secretary Doug Burgum issued a similar order directing National Park Service sites to remove any 'negative' information about Americans.
• In August 2025, Trump's Smithsonian review team informed the institution they would be examining exhibitions and materials to ensure they align with the president's directive.
• In December 2025, the White House complained the Smithsonian was not providing enough information and warned the museums must convey a 'positive view of American history.'
• On the fifth anniversary of the January 6 attack, the White House unveiled a website blaming Democrats for the riot and saying Trump had 'corrected a historic wrong' by pardoning the rioters.

What’s next

The legal battle over the removal of historical exhibits is ongoing, with a federal judge recently ordering the Trump administration to restore displays about slavery at the President's House in Philadelphia. Historians and archivists continue to document changes to the historical record, while millions of Americans have taken to the streets to demand the preservation of the nation's complex past.