Historians alarmed as Trump seeks to rewrite US story for 250th anniversary
Historians Alarmed by Trump’s 250th Anniversary Plans
Historians Alarmed as Trump Seeks to Rewrite U.S. History for 250th Anniversary
Concerns rise over an "approved version" of American history omitting failures and promoting Trump-centric narratives.
Historians across the country are raising red flags as Donald Trump pushes forward with plans to control the narrative of the United States' 250th anniversary. Critics warn that the effort threatens to distort the country's complex history in favor of a sanitized, ideologically driven version.
Historian Douglas Brinkley recalled Trump admitting he had never read a book on Abraham Lincoln, saying: “He told me that he was a visual guy … his sense of history began with John F Kennedy.”
Trump's executive order formed a taskforce for the July 2026 semiquincentennial, naming himself as its chair. It also includes initiatives such as the production of historical videos in partnership with Hillsdale College, and a proposed “National Garden of American Heroes.”
“He is not now and never has been a student of history, but is basically a restorationist.” — Jonathan Alter, historian
Rewriting the Narrative?
The new history project, called “The Story of America,” draws comparisons between Trump and Abraham Lincoln, with Hillsdale College’s president linking Trump’s "Make America Great Again" slogan to historical ideals of freedom.
Videos produced for the initiative emphasize patriotic themes, while critics argue they gloss over slavery, systemic racism, and other uncomfortable aspects of American history.
Culture War and the 1619 Project
Trump has long opposed progressive interpretations of history, especially the New York Times’ 1619 Project, which centers slavery and racism in the national narrative. In response, Trump launched the “1776 Report,” which many historians condemned as politically motivated and historically inaccurate.
“Anybody who teaches about the American revolution knows the founders feared someone like Donald Trump — someone who would be lawless and wield arbitrary power.” — Johann Neem
Resistance from Historians
Historians like Heather Cox Richardson are countering Trump’s version of history by producing their own educational videos, emphasizing grassroots narratives and multicultural contributions to U.S. democracy.
Richardson insists that a top-down, “perfect past” narrative serves authoritarian interests and is unlikely to gain traction in the long run: “The more he talks about it being this sanitized work of a few ideologically pure white leaders … the more other people will speak up.”
Historians Alarmed as Trump Seeks to Rewrite U.S. History for 250th Anniversary
Concerns rise over an "approved version" of American history omitting failures and promoting Trump-centric narratives.
Historians across the country are raising red flags as Donald Trump pushes forward with plans to control the narrative of the United States' 250th anniversary. Critics warn that the effort threatens to distort the country's complex history in favor of a sanitized, ideologically driven version.
Historian Douglas Brinkley recalled Trump admitting he had never read a book on Abraham Lincoln, saying: “He told me that he was a visual guy … his sense of history began with John F Kennedy.”
Trump's executive order formed a taskforce for the July 2026 semiquincentennial, naming himself as its chair. It also includes initiatives such as the production of historical videos in partnership with Hillsdale College, and a proposed “National Garden of American Heroes.”
Rewriting the Narrative?
The new history project, called “The Story of America,” draws comparisons between Trump and Abraham Lincoln, with Hillsdale College’s president linking Trump’s "Make America Great Again" slogan to historical ideals of freedom.
Videos produced for the initiative emphasize patriotic themes, while critics argue they gloss over slavery, systemic racism, and other uncomfortable aspects of American history.
Culture War and the 1619 Project
Trump has long opposed progressive interpretations of history, especially the New York Times’ 1619 Project, which centers slavery and racism in the national narrative. In response, Trump launched the “1776 Report,” which many historians condemned as politically motivated and historically inaccurate.
Resistance from Historians
Historians like Heather Cox Richardson are countering Trump’s version of history by producing their own educational videos, emphasizing grassroots narratives and multicultural contributions to U.S. democracy.
Richardson insists that a top-down, “perfect past” narrative serves authoritarian interests and is unlikely to gain traction in the long run: “The more he talks about it being this sanitized work of a few ideologically pure white leaders … the more other people will speak up.”
