The esteemed Smithsonian National Museum of American History is poised to reinstate information regarding President Donald Trump’s impeachment proceedings within its “The American Presidency: A Glorious Burden” exhibit, a decision that follows significant controversy and widespread concern over potential White House influence on the revered cultural institution.
The initial removal of a temporary placard detailing Trump’s two Senate trials had ignited a firestorm of criticism, with observers questioning the motivations behind the museum’s actions. The Smithsonian, in a subsequent statement, clarified that the placard’s removal was not politically motivated but rather due to its failure to meet the museum’s standards in terms of appearance, location, and overall presentation, asserting it was inconsistent with other sections and obstructed views.
However, reports from The Washington Post soon revealed that the Trump references were removed after the Smithsonian underwent an internal content review, reportedly spurred by pressure from the White House and accusations of partisan bias aimed at the museum. This revelation fueled public debate about the autonomy of national cultural landmarks.
Despite these accusations, the Smithsonian steadfastly maintained in its official statement that no administration or government official had requested the removal of content from the exhibit. It further explained that the “The American Presidency: A Glorious Burden” exhibit, originally created in 2000 and last formally updated in 2008, had only received the Trump placard in 2021 as a short-term measure to reflect current events, intended to remain until July 2025.
The decision to remove the Trump placard provoked sharp condemnation from lawmakers, notably Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, who publicly accused Trump of attempting to “rewrite history.” Schumer decried the act as “Orwellian,” suggesting it mirrored tactics seen in authoritarian regimes and emphasizing that despite any attempts to distort exhibits, the American public would remember the president’s two impeachments.
This incident also aligns with broader calls from Donald Trump for a “reimagining” of the Smithsonian Institution itself. In March, he accused the establishment of succumbing to a “divisive, race-centered ideology” and issued an executive order directing Vice President JD Vance to collaborate with the Smithsonian’s Board of Regents to “remove improper ideology” from its collections, further barring spending on exhibits that might “degrade shared American values” or promote inconsistent ideologies.
Adding another layer to this controversy, artist Amy Sherald, renowned for her portrait of Michelle Obama, recently withdrew her exhibit from the Smithsonian’s National Portrait Gallery. Sherald cited concerns about potential censorship after internal discussions arose regarding her portrait of a transgender woman titled “Trans Forming Liberty,” a situation she felt targeted vulnerable communities and compromised her artistic integrity.
A spokesperson for the Smithsonian, however, offered a different perspective on the Sherald incident, contending that the museum did not request the painting’s removal. Instead, they expressed a desire to contextualize the portrait with a video presenting diverse opinions, asserting that the institution aims to foster understanding through thoughtful presentation of art, even if an agreement could not be reached with the artist in this instance.
