The Smithsonian’s National Portrait Gallery has removed wall text referencing President Trump’s two impeachments from its “America’s Presidents” exhibition after installing a new black-and-white portrait of him by White House photographer Daniel Torok. The original label noted Trump’s impeachments for abuse of power and inciting insurrection, but the revised text now identifies him only as the 45th and 47th president and his birth year. The change follows years of contention from the Trump administration, which compiled a list of complaints accusing former director Kim Sajet of political bias; Sajet resigned, and Elliot Gruber now serves as acting director.
This incident matters because it illustrates escalating political pressure on the Smithsonian, a historically independent institution, to shape historical narratives favorably for the Trump administration. In March, Trump signed an executive order directing reviews of Smithsonian exhibitions for “improper ideology,” and the institution faces potential federal budget cuts if it does not comply. The removal of impeachment language—while Clinton’s impeachment remains noted—raises concerns about censorship, factual accuracy, and the politicization of museum displays at a national level.