The New History Wars
A bookish form of protest is opposing Trump’s changes.
In a recent Washington afternoon, a reporter donned augmented reality glasses to explore the White House East Wing, a site currently under construction as the Supreme Court deliberates over Donald Trump's plans. The glasses displayed images of the area altered by Trump, such as the removal of Jacqueline Kennedy Garden and the White House Family Theater.
A public historian named Lexi Cleveland, creator of the 2026 experience, guided the tour, asking questions about the loss of historical buildings and monuments. For instance, she juxtaposed a Black Lives Matter mural removed by the city during Trump's presidency with the equestrian statue of President Andrew Jackson, known for his support of slavery and the Indian Removal Act.
Cleveland planned to pose similar questions to larger groups when the tours commence, seeking to mediate debates on history's representation. Trump's administration has been active in reshaping Washington's commemorative landscape, issuing an executive order to the National Park Service demanding signs at the National Museum of American History, accusing it of "ideological capture" by an "activist cohort."
This conflict over historical narratives will likely extend to the National Mall, where the National Guard remains active, and the transformed White House, now adorned with fencing. Scaffolding obstructs the former Trump name above the Kennedy Center, while statues on Arlington Memorial Bridge have been obscured by gold. Downtown, reinstalled statues from Black Lives Matter protests include one of Confederate General Albert Pike and Caesar Rodney, a signer of the Declaration of Independence who owned slaves.
Amidst these conflicts, historians, preservationists, and activists are striving to reintroduce their perspectives into public spaces. The Secret Handshake, a guerilla art group, has been creating viral art pieces on the Mall, while Citizen Historians for the Smithsonian plans to provide docent interpretations at Trump's future exhibit, challenging the official narrative and highlighting diverse stories.
Written by urgent.news from The Atlantic's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
