President Donald Trump reportedly asked his aides if they could move the real Declaration of Independence into his office, a request that caused concern among some of his staff, according to The Atlantic.
Trump’s request alarmed his aides, who immediately recognized both the implausibility and expense of moving the original document. The Declaration of Independence, which was signed nearly 250 years ago to establish the United States’ independence from Britain, is highly fragile and carefully protected. As reported by Ashley Parker and Michael Scherer, “Trump’s request alarmed some of his aides, who immediately recognized both the implausibility and expense of moving the original document.”
The Declaration of Independence is currently displayed at the National Archives in Washington, D.C. It is kept in a special, high-security case to prevent further damage. The document is stored behind heavy glass and in a room with low light to minimize the risk of deterioration. The room is “perhaps the most treasured historical document in the U.S. government’s possession,” as Parker and Scherer noted. It is housed in a case filled with argon gas, and the case can retract into the wall at night for security. “Because of light damage to the faded animal-skin parchment, the room is kept dimly lit; restrictions have been placed on how often the doors can even be opened,” the report said.
Given the challenges of moving the original, Trump has since shown interest in displaying a historical copy of the Declaration of Independence instead. These copies, made in the 1820s by William J. Stone at the request of then-Secretary of State John Quincy Adams, were created to preserve the original document. While still valuable, these copies are much more practical to display and are the version most commonly found in history books. “Displaying a copy would still enshrine history’s most famous written rejection of monarchy in the seat of American power,” Parker and Scherer wrote.
The Declaration of Independence, whether in its original form or in one of the Stone copies, is recognized around the world as a powerful symbol of freedom and equality. The document famously declares that “all men are created equal,” asserts that governments derive their authority “from the consent of the governed,” and lists grievances against a despotic ruler. It is “the most famous written rejection of monarchy” and remains an important symbol in U.S. history, featured in textbooks worldwide.
Trump’s request for the Declaration aligns with his broader effort to reshape the federal government and assert more power for the presidency. In recent months, he has taken steps to centralize authority in the executive branch, including taking control of spending decisions and threatening legal action against reporters critical of his administration.
