The White House has suggested that the Smithsonian's National Portrait Gallery create a dedicated section to display multiple images of President Donald Trump, including a new painted portrait, during his current term. This proposal came from a December visit by State Department and White House officials, who argued that art gifted to the president by supporters should be showcased. The initiative would break from the gallery's long-standing tradition of displaying only a single photographic likeness during a president's tenure and unveiling a commissioned painted portrait only after they leave office.
The request is part of broader tensions between the Trump administration and the Smithsonian, which has faced criticism over alleged ideological bias and requests for detailed institutional information. The gallery recently replaced a Trump photograph and removed wall text about his impeachments following White House objections. This push challenges the museum's curatorial independence and established norms regarding the presentation and timing of presidential portraits, raising questions about political influence over a non-partisan cultural institution.