AP Finds 35,000 Park Comments Rebuked Trump History Order, With More Than Half Critical
Updated
Updated · The Associated Press · Jun 10
AP Finds 35,000 Park Comments Rebuked Trump History Order, With More Than Half Critical
3 articles · Updated · The Associated Press · Jun 10
Summary
More than half of 35,000 public comments on the Trump administration’s national park history order criticized the effort itself, according to an AP analysis of responses submitted from June to January and released through a lawsuit.
The order from Interior Secretary Doug Burgum asked visitors to report exhibits deemed “negative” about Americans and followed Trump’s push to restore what he called “truth and sanity” to U.S. history.
Save Our Signs says at least 59 signs or exhibits have already been removed or altered, including material on slavery, climate change, women’s rights and Native American history.
Philadelphia’s Independence National Historical Park saw some of the most visible changes, including exhibits on nine people enslaved there in the 1790s under George Washington; some were later restored under a judge’s order before the administration appealed.
The comments suggest the policy drew limited but sharp public engagement against a backdrop of 323 million visits to more than 400 National Park Service sites last year.
How might the removal of exhibits on slavery and climate change reshape public understanding of American history in national parks?
What legal or institutional safeguards exist to prevent executive overreach in altering historical content at federally funded cultural sites?
Could the focus on only positive American achievements in public exhibitions impact cultural identity and historical learning for future generations?
400 National Parks, One History War: The Impact and Backlash of Executive Order 14253 on American Memory (2025–2026)
Overview
In 2025, President Trump issued Executive Order 14253, directing the Department of the Interior to review and revise historical materials at over 400 national sites to emphasize American achievements and remove content seen as disparaging. This sparked immediate public outcry, legal challenges, and criticism from historians who warned of erasing important parts of history. Changes included removing references to slavery, Indigenous history, and LGBTQ+ representation. Lawsuits, such as the one over the President’s House exhibit, highlighted the deep divisions and ongoing legal battles. The controversy continues to affect public trust and raises concerns about political influence over how America’s history is told in national parks.