Judge orders Trump to return slavery exhibit to Philadelphia museum

The judge invoked George Orwell's "1984" in her ruling, accusing the Trump administration of trying to "dissemble and disassemble historical truths."

Published on Feb. 25, 2026

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A federal judge in Philadelphia has ordered the Trump administration to return a slavery exhibit to a museum on the site of former President George Washington's home. The judge, Cynthia Rufe, accused the administration of trying to suppress historical facts, invoking the dystopian novel "1984." The Trump administration has appealed the order, but the judge is enforcing a deadline for the exhibit to be restored by this Friday.

Why it matters

This case highlights the ongoing tensions between the Trump administration and efforts to preserve and accurately portray American history, especially when it comes to the legacy of slavery. The judge's strong language and references to "1984" suggest deep concerns about the government's motives in this case.

The details

In her order, Judge Rufe said the Trump administration was acting as if the "Ministry of Truth" from "1984" existed, with a motto of "Ignorance is Strength." She said the court must determine whether the federal government has the power "to dissemble and disassemble historical truths." The Trump administration responded by appealing the order without returning the exhibit. In a late-Wednesday ruling, Rufe gave the administration until this Friday to restore the exhibit to its previous state.

  • On February 16, 2026, Judge Rufe ordered the Trump administration to return the slavery exhibit to the museum.
  • On February 18, 2026, Rufe said she was giving the Trump administration until February 20, 2026 at 5:00 PM to restore the exhibit.

The players

Judge Cynthia Rufe

A federal judge in Philadelphia who has ordered the Trump administration to return a slavery exhibit to a museum on the site of former President George Washington's home.

Donald Trump

The former President of the United States, whose administration has been ordered to return the slavery exhibit to the museum.

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What they’re saying

“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. It does not.”

— Judge Cynthia Rufe (rawstory.com)

What’s next

The judge has set a deadline of this Friday, February 20, 2026 at 5:00 PM for the Trump administration to restore the slavery exhibit to the museum. If the administration fails to comply, the judge has indicated she will enforce her order despite the ongoing appeal.

The takeaway

This case highlights the ongoing tensions between the Trump administration and efforts to accurately portray America's history, especially when it comes to the legacy of slavery. The judge's strong language and references to dystopian fiction suggest deep concerns about the government's motives in this case, raising questions about the preservation of historical truth.