A heated debate arises as the Trump administration removes the ‘Enola Gay’ plane from an online database, citing its DEI content purge policy.
Trump’s DEI Purge removes thousands of images
The Trump administration has intensified its crackdown on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives.
A new purge under the “Ending Radical and Wasteful Government DEI Programs and Preferencing” executive order is now affecting federal archives.
The Department of Defense (DoD) has flagged over 26,000 images for deletion.
The Associated Press (AP) reports that some were removed solely because they contained the word “gay.”
The removal of the ‘Enola Gay‘ image
Among the deleted images is a historical photo of the Enola Gay. This World War II aircraft dropped the atomic bomb on Hiroshima and was named after the mother of its pilot, Colonel Paul Tibbets.
However, officials have not clarified why the image was removed. The decision has left historians and military families in disbelief.
Other images caught in the Purge
The DEI purge has removed a wide range of images. Some of the targeted images include:
– A California Army Corps of Engineers dredging project featuring someone with the last name “Gay.”
– A photograph of Army Corps biologists recording data on fish gender.
– Military milestone photos of women and minorities.
The administration briefly removed images of the Tuskegee Airmen but restored them after public backlash.
These airmen were the first Black military pilots in World War II.
Pentagon’s reasponde to the DEI Purge
Pentagon spokesperson John Ullyot defended the removals.
He stated on X: “We are pleased by the rapid compliance across the Department with the directive removing DEI content from all platforms.”
He acknowledged that some content might have been mistakenly removed. However, he insisted that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has declared that DEI is “dead.”
Many remain unsure of the exact scope of Trump’s executive order. Some images, such as “Deadlift contenders raise the bar pound by pound” and “Minnesota brothers reunite in Kuwait,” were removed without explanation.
Meanwhile, photos of Jeannie Leavitt, the first female fighter pilot, were left untouched.
Paul Tibbets’ family reacts to the incident
Kia Tibbets, granddaughter of Colonel Paul Tibbets, reacted strongly to the removal of the Enola Gay image. “My grandfather was proud to serve his country and all Americans,” she said.
She added, “He would be very upset. In a time when people named planes after various things, he chose to honor his mother.”
Social media reaction
The DEI purge raises concerns about the preservation of historical records.
On social media, critics argue that the mass removal of images could erase key moments from military history.
One person said: Regardless of how you feel about ANYTHING, history is history. Eliminating what we’re able to see, read, or learn reminds me a lil too much of Fahrenheit 451…
A second wrote: Most likely they used Ai since Ai doesn’t get context or names…
While a third commented: I think Enola gay is name after the mother of its pilot
Another added: A pathetic excuse to try to erase all great accomplishments in and for this country by anyone who wasn’t white.
Someone else said: Trump didn’t do that.
As the purge continues, questions remain about its long-term impact on historical archives and public records.