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 during a December visit by State Department and White House officials, who noted the president receives much artwork from supporters that could be curated for display.
The suggestion breaks with longstanding curatorial precedent, as the gallery typically displays only a single photographic likeness during a president's tenure, commissioning and unveiling a painted portrait only after they leave office. The push is part of broader tensions between the Trump administration and the Smithsonian, which has included criticism of perceived ideological bias and a previous attempt to fire the gallery's director. The request raises questions about institutional autonomy and the politicization of a federal museum's historical presentation.