Trump’s Impeachments Removed from Smithsonian Portrait Display/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ The Smithsonian’s National Portrait Gallery has quietly removed references to Donald Trump’s two impeachments from his photo display. The change follows Trump’s directive for federal museums to reflect “American exceptionalism” ahead of the U.S. Semiquincentennial. Critics say it marks a political shift in how presidential history is presented.
Quick Highlights:
- Trump’s National Portrait Gallery display no longer includes impeachment details
- Smithsonian offers no public explanation for the removal
- Trump previously ordered museums to review exhibits ahead of the U.S. 250th anniversary
- Original label referenced impeachments and 2024 comeback victory
- New display includes only a photo and basic medallion identifiers
- White House celebrates updated photo for reflecting Trump’s “aura”
- Portrait changes reflect broader Trump effort to reshape national memory
- Nixon, Clinton, and Johnson impeachment references remain untouched
- Smithsonian plans larger exhibit refresh in spring
- Trump personally involved in revising presidential depictions at the White House
Trump’s Smithsonian Portrait Quietly Altered to Omit Impeachments
Deep Look
WASHINGTON — The Smithsonian Institution has removed references to President Donald Trump’s two impeachments from the text accompanying his photo portrait in the National Portrait Gallery, a subtle but telling revision in the ongoing tug-of-war over how presidential history is told in federal museums.
The change affects the “American Presidents” exhibition, which features each U.S. president with a painting or photograph and an accompanying biographical summary. Until recently, Trump’s label included a factual timeline of his administration’s key moments — from nominating Supreme Court justices to managing the COVID-19 pandemic. It also mentioned that he was impeached twice and acquitted twice by the Senate. That section has now vanished.
What remains is a new photo — an intense image of Trump, brow furrowed, leaning over the Resolute Desk — with no visible summary next to it. According to the museum, the text is still available online. But unlike the displays for other presidents, there is now no extended label accompanying Trump’s photo in the exhibit itself.
As of Sunday, Trump was the only president in the gallery without any text elaborating on his presidency.
White House Silent on Who Ordered the Change
Neither the Smithsonian nor the White House offered a direct explanation for the change. A Smithsonian spokesperson issued a vague statement indicating that the museum is beginning a planned update of the gallery and is “exploring quotes or tombstone labels” in future exhibitions. These simpler labels offer only general information, such as the artist’s name or photo credit.
The White House did not say whether Trump or his aides requested the change. However, in August 2025, Trump ordered federal cultural institutions, including the Smithsonian, to conduct a sweeping review of their exhibits in anticipation of the U.S. Semiquincentennial in 2026.
The goal, according to administration memos, was to “celebrate American exceptionalism,” remove “partisan narratives,” and restore public confidence in national museums.
Original Label Noted Trump’s Historic Comeback
The original portrait label included Trump’s key accomplishments and setbacks, noting his COVID-19 response and three Supreme Court appointments. It also referenced his impeachments — one in 2019 for abuse of power and another in 2021 for inciting an insurrection — and acknowledged his political rebound in 2024.
“After losing to Joe Biden in 2020,” the label once read, “Trump mounted a historic comeback in the 2024 election. He is the only president aside from Grover Cleveland (1837–1908) to have won a nonconsecutive second term.”
That line is now absent from the museum’s current display.
A New Image, A New Message
Trump’s new portrait was taken by Daniel Torok, an official White House photographer. The image, which exudes a powerful and commanding presence, now appears beside medallions identifying Trump as both the 45th and 47th president.
White House spokesperson Davis Ingle praised the portrait, saying it allows Trump’s “unmatched aura” to permeate the space. He did not comment on whether the label removal was at the president’s request.
Impeachment Mentions Remain for Other Presidents
The decision to omit Trump’s impeachments stands out, especially since references to the impeachments of Presidents Andrew Johnson and Bill Clinton remain intact. The museum also continues to note Richard Nixon’s 1974 resignation amid the Watergate scandal.
The Smithsonian emphasized that discussions of presidential impeachments are still found in other exhibits, particularly at the National Museum of American History. However, critics argue that altering the presidential gallery label for only one modern president undermines the consistency of the institution’s historical storytelling.
Trump’s Broader Push to Shape His Legacy
This change is not isolated. Trump has taken a direct role in curating his public legacy across multiple federal spaces. Earlier in his term, he dismissed the head of the National Archives and moved to replace National Portrait Gallery Director Kim Sajet. While Sajet retained backing from the Smithsonian’s Board of Regents, she ultimately resigned.
Trump also revamped the White House’s “Presidential Walk of Fame,” a gallery of framed presidential portraits with narrative plaques. Each plaque was reportedly written or edited by Trump himself. While his own portraits received glowing praise, Joe Biden’s was notably harsh. Instead of a photo, Biden is represented by a mechanical autopen signature and a plaque calling him “by far, the worst President in American History.”
A Broader Cultural Shift Underway
Trump’s efforts to control how institutions remember his presidency are part of a broader campaign to reshape how U.S. history is curated in public institutions. His administration has repeatedly criticized museums and textbooks that emphasize systemic racism, economic inequality, or the impact of slavery in shaping American society.
With the nation approaching its 250th birthday in 2026, these debates over historical memory — and who gets to define it — are only likely to intensify.
You must Register or Login to post a comment.