The Smithsonian's National Portrait Gallery has removed references to Donald Trump's two impeachments from his portrait display, coinciding with his efforts to influence how U.S. history is presented.
President Donald Trump ’s portrait display at the Smithsonian ’s National Portrait Gallery no longer includes references to his two impeachments, marking the latest apparent change at an institution he has accused of bias as he seeks greater influence over how U.
S. history is officially presented.The wall text, which summarized Trump's first presidency and noted his 2024 comeback victory, was part of the museum's "American Presidents" exhibition. RELATED: America 250: Big events across the country to have on your radar for 2026The description had been placed alongside a photograph of Trump taken during his first term. Now, a different photo appears without any accompanying text block, though the text was available online. Trump was the only president whose display in the gallery, as seen Sunday, did not include any extended text.The White House did not say whether it sought any changes. Nor did a Smithsonian statement in response to Associated Press questions. But Trump ordered in August that Smithsonian officials review all exhibits before the nation celebrates the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence on July 4. The Republican administration said the effort would "ensure alignment with the president’s directive to celebrate American exceptionalism, remove divisive or partisan narratives, and restore confidence in our shared cultural institutions."Trump's original "portrait label," as the Smithsonian calls it, notes Trump's Supreme Court nominations and his administration's development of COVID-19 vaccines. That section concludes: "Impeached twice, on charges of abuse of power and incitement of insurrection after supporters attacked the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021, he was acquitted by the Senate in both trials."Then the text continues: "After losing to Joe Biden in 2020, Trump mounted a historic comeback in the 2024 election. He is the only president aside from Grover Cleveland to have won a nonconsecutive second term."RELATED: Trump launches massive ‘Freedom 250’ push to ignite America’s 250th birthday celebrationAsked about the display, White House spokesman Davis Ingle celebrated the new photograph, which shows Trump, brow furrowed, leaning over his Oval Office desk. Ingle said it ensures Trump's "unmatched aura ... will be felt throughout the halls of the National Portrait Gallery."The portrait was taken by White House photographer Daniel Torok, who is credited in the display that includes medallions noting Trump is the 45th and 47th president. Similar numerical medallions appear alongside other presidents' painted portraits that also include the more extended biographical summaries such as what had been part of Trump's display.Sitting presidents are represented by photographs until their official paintings are commissioned and completed.Ingle did not answer questions about whether Trump or a White House aide, on his behalf, asked for anything related to the portrait label.The gallery said in a statement that it had previously rotated two photographs of Trump from its collection before putting up Torok's work."The museum is beginning its planned update of the America’s Presidents gallery which will undergo a larger refresh this Spring," the gallery statement said. "For some new exhibitions and displays, the museum has been exploring quotes or tombstone labels, which provide only general information, such as the artist’s name."For now, references to Presidents Andrew Johnson and Bill Clinton being impeached in 1868 and 1998, respectively, remain as part of their portrait labels, as does President Richard Nixon's 1974 resignation as a result of the Watergate scandal.And, the gallery statement noted, "The history of Presidential impeachments continues to be represented in our museums, including the National Museum of American History."Trump has made clear his intentions to shape how the federal government documents U.S. history and culture. He has offered an especially harsh assessment of how the Smithsonian and other museums have featured chattel slavery as a seminal variable in the nation's development but also taken steps to reshape how he and his contemporary rivals are depicted.In the months before his order for a Smithsonian review, he fired the head archivist of the National Archives and said he was firing the National Portrait Gallery's director, Kim Sajet, as part of his overhaul. Sajet maintained the backing of the Smithsonian's governing board, but she ultimately resigned.
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Reference to Trump's impeachments is removed from the display of his Smithsonian photo portraitReferences to President Donald Trump’s two impeachments have been removed from his photo portrait display at the Smithsonian’s National Portrait Gallery in Washington.
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Reference to Trump's impeachments is removed from the display of his Smithsonian photo portraitReferences to President Donald Trump’s two impeachments have been removed from his photo portrait display at the Smithsonian’s National Portrait Gallery in Washington.
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Reference to Trump's impeachments is removed from the display of his Smithsonian photo portraitReferences to President Donald Trump’s two impeachments have been removed from his photo portrait display at the Smithsonian’s National Portrait Gallery in Washington.
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Reference to Trump's impeachments removed from photo at Smithsonian's National Portrait GalleryThe wall text, which summarized Trump's first presidency and noted his 2024 comeback victory, was part of the museum's 'American Presidents' exhibition.
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