In mid-December, Abby Jones, acting chief of protocol at the State Department, suggested during a tour of the Smithsonian’s National Portrait Gallery that the museum create a dedicated gallery featuring multiple images of President Donald Trump, in addition to his official portrait. The White House later noted it regularly receives artworks depicting Trump from supporters and proposed displaying some at the museum, though no formal request has been made. The discussion follows the gallery’s recent replacement of Trump’s official photograph with a more flattering image and the removal of wall text referencing his two impeachments, which the museum described as part of a broader exhibition update.
This story matters because it highlights ongoing tensions between the Trump administration and the Smithsonian Institution, a traditionally independent cultural body. The White House has criticized perceived ideological bias in museum displays and pressed for detailed information on content and finances, while Smithsonian officials assert their autonomy. The episode raises concerns about political interference in museum curation and the preservation of institutional independence, especially after Trump claimed to have fired former director Kim Sajet over impeachment-related wall texts, though Sajet later resigned.