Montco Joins Lawsuit To Combat Removal Of Slavery Exhibits In Philly

The counties are fighting to restore slavery exhibits at the President's House historical site.

Published on Feb. 10, 2026

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Montgomery County has joined a lawsuit in support of an effort to restore slavery exhibits at the President's House historical site in Old City Philadelphia. The move comes after President Trump issued an executive order to remove mentions of slavery from the site, which is run by the U.S. National Park Service. Montgomery County, along with Bucks, Chester, and Delaware counties, are supporting Philadelphia in a joint amicus brief to apply broader pressure against what has been described as an "erasure of history".

Why it matters

The President's House site details the history of the executive mansion, including the nine slaves kept by President George Washington during his time there. The removal of this history by Trump's order is seen as the latest step in a broader cultural war that seeks to sunder America along class and racial lines. The counties joining the lawsuit view this as a threat to democracy and an attempt to rewrite the nation's history.

The details

The exhibits at the President's House site provide important historical context about the lives of enslaved people who lived there during Washington and Adams' presidencies. The counties joining the lawsuit view the removal of these exhibits as an attempt to whitewash history and deprive the public of a full understanding of the nation's past.

  • In late January 2026, President Trump issued an executive order to remove mentions of slavery from the President's House historical site.
  • In early February 2026, Montgomery County joined the lawsuit along with Bucks, Chester, and Delaware counties to support Philadelphia's effort to restore the slavery exhibits.

The players

Montgomery County

A county in Pennsylvania that has joined a lawsuit to combat the removal of slavery exhibits at the President's House historical site in Philadelphia.

Bucks County

A county in Pennsylvania that has joined the lawsuit alongside Montgomery County to support Philadelphia's effort to restore the slavery exhibits.

Chester County

A county in Pennsylvania that has joined the lawsuit alongside Montgomery County to support Philadelphia's effort to restore the slavery exhibits.

Delaware County

A county in Pennsylvania that has joined the lawsuit alongside Montgomery County to support Philadelphia's effort to restore the slavery exhibits.

President Trump

The former President of the United States who issued an executive order to remove mentions of slavery from the President's House historical site.

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What they’re saying

“Instead of white-washing our history, we should be taking action to ensure that all members of our community, no matter their backgrounds, can live the American Dream. We must stand firm on our convictions that our history makes us stronger, better, and braver.”

— Jamila Winder, Montgomery County Commissioner (Patch.com)

“Attempts to erase and rewrite a nation's history is a threat to democracy and cannot go unchecked. A society that edits its history, instead of continuing to learn from it, is bound to repeat its worst mistakes.”

— Marcel Pratt, Ballard Spahr's Philadelphia Managing Partner (Patch.com)

What’s next

The judge presiding over the lawsuit will determine whether the slavery exhibits at the President's House historical site should be restored or if the Trump administration's order to remove them will be upheld.

The takeaway

This lawsuit represents a broader fight to preserve the accurate historical record and ensure that all aspects of the nation's past, including the painful realities of slavery, are not erased or whitewashed. The counties involved view this as a crucial battle to uphold democratic principles and prevent the repetition of past mistakes.