Smithsonian removes impeachment references from Trump’s presidential portrait display

The Smithsonian Institution’s National Portrait Gallery has removed references to former US President Donald Trump’s two impeachments from the wall text accompanying his photo portrait, triggering debate over political influence on how American history is officially presented.

Trump’s display in the gallery’s permanent “America’s Presidents” exhibition earlier included a detailed “portrait label” summarising his first term, Supreme Court nominations, his administration’s role in developing COVID-19 vaccines, his 2024 comeback election victory, and the fact that he was impeached twice on charges of abuse of power and incitement of insurrection though acquitted by the Senate in both trials.

That explanatory text has now been removed from the physical display. A different photograph of Trump, taken by White House photographer Daniel Torok, is currently on view without any extended biographical label, making Trump the only president in the gallery without such accompanying text. The information remains available on the Smithsonian’s website.

The Smithsonian said the change comes as part of a planned update and refresh of the America’s Presidents gallery, during which some displays may temporarily feature only minimal “tombstone labels” that list basic information such as the artist’s name. It stressed that the history of presidential impeachments continues to be represented across Smithsonian museums, including the National Museum of American History.

Traditionally, the National Portrait Gallery presents sitting presidents with photographs until official painted portraits are commissioned after their terms end. Each display usually includes a concise historical summary noting major achievements and significant controversies. Impeachments of Andrew Johnson (1868) and Bill Clinton (1998) remain mentioned in their portrait labels, as does Richard Nixon’s 1974 resignation following the Watergate scandal.

The White House did not confirm whether it sought changes to Trump’s display. However, spokesman Davis Ingle praised the new photograph, saying it ensures Trump’s “unmatched aura” would be felt throughout the gallery. He declined to say whether Trump or his aides had requested the removal of the impeachment references.

The development comes amid Trump’s broader push to reshape how federal institutions portray US history. He has previously accused the Smithsonian and other cultural bodies of bias , ordered a review of exhibits ahead of the country’s 250th Independence anniversary, and called for the removal of what his administration describes as “divisive or partisan narratives.”

While the Smithsonian maintains that the change is part of routine curatorial updates, critics argue that removing impeachment references from only Trump’s display raises concerns about selective history and political pressure on national cultural institutions.