Trump Administration 2.0 Faces Backlash Over Missing US Constitution Page on White House Website
In a controversial start to his second term, President Donald Trump unveiled a revamped White House website showcasing his administration’s vision for making America "safe again," "affordable," and "energy dominant." The homepage prominently featured a silhouette of Trump accompanied by the slogan "America is Back." However, amidst the rollout, social media users and political analysts were quick to notice a glaring omission—the page dedicated to the US Constitution was missing.
Under President Joe Biden’s administration, the White House website had prominently featured content explaining the Constitution and its role as the foundation of American democracy. This page offered historical insights into the creation of the Constitution and emphasized its enduring significance. In the updated version of the website, however, the Constitution page, along with those detailing the Bill of Rights, appeared to be removed. Users attempting to access these sections were met with "404 error - Page not found" messages, sparking widespread criticism and concern about transparency.
Adding to the controversy, the bio pages for former presidents, including Republican icons like Abraham Lincoln and Ronald Reagan and Democratic leaders such as Jimmy Carter, Barack Obama, and Bill Clinton, also displayed error messages. The Spanish-language version of the website was similarly inaccessible, drawing criticism for its lack of inclusivity.
In response to the growing backlash, the White House attributed the missing content to technical glitches during the website’s transition. Principal White House Deputy Press Secretary Harrison Fields addressed the issue, stating, "It’s day two. We are in the process of developing, editing, and tweaking the White House website. As part of this ongoing work, some of the archived content on the website went dormant. We are committed to reloading that content in a short timeline." Fields also reassured users that the Spanish translation section would be restored soon.
The omissions have sparked significant debate on social media platforms, with many users questioning the priorities of the new administration. Critics pointed to similar actions during Trump’s first term in 2017, when his team removed pages on LGBTQ+ rights and climate change. These actions aligned with policy changes such as the revocation of transgender individuals’ ability to serve in the military—a ban that was later reversed by the Biden administration.
Supporters of the Trump administration argue that the missing pages are likely a temporary issue, emphasizing the scale of work involved in transitioning a website for a new administration. However, opponents see these omissions as a reflection of the administration’s disregard for historical preservation and inclusivity.
The White House’s commitment to restoring the missing content will be closely monitored in the coming weeks. While technical issues during transitions are not uncommon, the absence of the Constitution page, a symbol of American democracy, has raised questions about messaging and intent. Restoring trust will require swift action to ensure that critical content is made accessible to the public.
As Trump’s second term unfolds, this incident serves as a reminder of the scrutiny that accompanies decisions impacting transparency and communication. The administration’s ability to address these early missteps will play a significant role in shaping public perception during its tenure.
Refrence From: www.ndtv.com