Trump Orders Removal of 44-Year White House Peace Vigil

President Donald Trump has ordered the removal of the White House Peace Vigil, a blue tent that has stood continuously since 1981 as the longest-running anti-war protest in U.S. history. Trump expressed surprise upon learning of the vigil's existence and demanded its immediate dismantling, describing it as an eyesore during a meeting in the Oval Office and to reporters. The vigil, maintained by a small group of protesters who reside elsewhere and is required by the National Park Service to be manned at all times, has faced prior threats, including criticism from Republican Representative Jeff Van Drew, who labeled it a public safety hazard and a permanent structure hijacking a national park. Despite the protest's historical significance and First Amendment protections, the administration is moving to remove it amid a broader effort to clear encampments in Washington, D.C. The White House has not publicly clarified its stance beyond Trump's directive, leaving the future of the decades-long peace demonstration uncertain.