In recent days, the White House has drawn criticism for interfering with the Museum of African American History. While political battles over narratives are nothing new, this episode reveals a more troubling truth: too many Americans forget that the President is not the final authority in our constitutional system. The job of the President, as laid out in Article II of the U.S. Constitution, is not to rewrite history—but to faithfully execute the laws passed by Congress.
That’s it. The Constitution is clear.
What Article II Really Says
The President is vested with executive power—not legislative, not judicial. That means carrying out laws, not creating or interpreting them to fit a political agenda. Article II, Section 3 says the President “shall take Care that the Laws be faithfully executed.” There’s no clause that allows for rewriting museum exhibits or sanitizing history.
Congress is the body that appropriates funding for national museums. Independent boards and curators determine historical content based on research, fact, and public record—not based on what may or may not make the President uncomfortable.
Why Presidential Interference in History Is Dangerous
When the President begins to influence or suppress how we tell our story—especially stories of slavery, civil rights, and racial injustice—it sets a chilling precedent. It erodes civic education and undermines trust in the institutions meant to inform us, not shield us from hard truths.
History is not meant to flatter our leaders. It is meant to educate citizens, preserve accountability, and ensure we never forget where we’ve been—so we don’t repeat the mistakes of the past.
We the People Must Guard the Truth
A free and educated people must not allow any President, of any party, to dictate historical truth. When we sanitize our history, we rob future generations of the ability to understand the fullness of American life: the triumphs and the tragedies.
The truth may be uncomfortable—but it is also essential. And under the Constitution, it’s not the President’s role to comfort us. It’s the President’s role to uphold the rule of law, support education, and protect our freedom to learn and reflect.
Conclusion: The Power Belongs to the People
The President does not define history. Neither does Congress, the courts, or any one person. In our republic, the truth belongs to the people, and so does the responsibility to protect it.
If we want civic education to survive—if we want democracy to mean something—we must push back against political interference in historical truth.
Let’s teach history as it is—not how politicians wish it were