Trump Impeachments No Longer Mentioned in Smithsonian Exhibit

The Smithsonian’s National Portrait Gallery has quietly removed wall text that referenced President Trump’s two impeachments after it unveiled a new portrait of President Trump in its “American Presidents” exhibit.

The initial label cited several of Trump’s political achievements, including the appointment of three Supreme Court justices and what he called a “historic comeback in the 2024 election” after losing to Joe Biden four years ago. It also noted that Trump had been impeached twice for abuse of power and inciting insurrection after the attack on the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021. The text adds that he was acquitted by the Senate both times.

Mentions of impeachment have reportedly been a sore point for the Trump administration for years. After Trump announced last year that he was firing then-gallery director Kim Sajet, the White House drafted a list of complaints accusing her of political bias. included in this list and with new york timeswas the now-deleted impeachment language.

The new portrait is a black-and-white photo taken by White House photographer Daniel Torok. In the photo, Trump is sitting in the Oval Office, with his fists on the table and looking directly into the camera. When Trump posted the photo on social media in October, he wrote: “In the Oval Office, ready to leave our mark on the world. Make America Great Again!”

In a statement released Saturday, White House spokesman Davis Ingle called the photo “iconic” and said the president’s presence will be felt throughout the gallery.

The National Portrait Gallery said the photo was displayed on Thursday as part of a planned update of the exhibition. The museum said it has been experimenting with shorter, more concise wall labels, sometimes sticking to basic identifying information. It added that the subject of presidential impeachment continues to be addressed elsewhere in the Smithsonian museum.

The updated labels now simply identify Trump as the 45th and 47th presidents of the United States and note that he was born in 1946. However, wall text next to a portrait of President Bill Clinton explicitly mentions that he was impeached for lying under oath about a sexual relationship with a White House intern.

The changes come amid broader pressure from the Trump administration on the Smithsonian to present a more favorable version of American history. In March, Trump signed an executive order directing officials to review Smithsonian exhibits to determine whether there was what the White House called “inappropriate ideology.” The agency, which has long operated independently of the executive branch, now faces the risk of an ultimatum to hand over internal materials or cuts to its main federal budget.

Saget eventually resigned, saying the move was in the best interests of the National Portrait Gallery. Elliot Gruber is acting director. Last year, the National Museum of American History made similar redactions of impeachment-related language, saying at the time that it remained committed to accurate, fact-based scholarship.