The Smithsonian Institution recently sparked public discussion by temporarily removing a reference to former President Donald Trump’s two impeachments from a prominent exhibit, a move that coincides with increasing White House scrutiny on historical narratives.
This particular reference was part of the “Limits of Presidential Power” section within the National Museum of American History’s broader exhibit on the American presidency, initially updated in 2021 to include Trump’s impeachments alongside materials related to Andrew Johnson and Richard Nixon.
According to Smithsonian spokesperson Phillip Zimmerman, the decision to revert the section to its 2008 appearance stems from a review of legacy content, indicating a need for a comprehensive overhaul of the exhibit’s outdated elements.
Zimmerman clarified that the 2021 label addressing Trump’s impeachments was always intended as a short-term measure for current events, and a future, updated exhibit promises to incorporate all presidential impeachments.
White House spokesperson Davis Ingle openly expressed support for updating museum displays to “highlight American greatness,” alleging that the Smithsonian has unduly emphasized “divisive DEI exhibits,” though he did not directly address the missing Trump impeachment reference.
Since leaving office, former President Trump has actively sought to influence various Washington cultural institutions, including the Smithsonian, through funding cuts and demands for changes, encapsulated by an executive order aimed at “Restoring Truth and Sanity to American History.”
This development follows other recent controversies, such as artist Amy Sherald canceling an exhibit at the National Portrait Gallery after concerns were raised about her painting “Trans Forming Liberty, 2024,” further highlighting tensions surrounding artistic and historical interpretations in national museums.
As a venerable institution overseeing a vast network of cultural centers, including the National Portrait Gallery and the National Museum of American History, the Smithsonian remains a crucial arbiter of national narratives, and its exhibit decisions are closely watched.
