At a Glance
- The National Portrait Gallery has removed text noting Donald Trump’s two impeachments from his display in the “America’s Presidents” exhibition.
- Only Trump’s photo now appears; the accompanying panel outlining his presidency-including references to his impeachments and the January 6 Capitol attack-has been taken down.
- Wall labels for other impeached presidents, Andrew Johnson and Bill Clinton, still include those details.
- Why it matters: The change signals a potential shift in how Smithsonian museums present U.S. history under the Trump administration’s directive to “remove divisive or partisan narratives.”
The Smithsonian’s National Portrait Gallery has quietly altered its presentation of President Donald Trump, stripping out references to his historic double impeachment. As of Sunday, a photograph of Trump hangs without the customary biographical text that had detailed his first-term accomplishments and the circumstances of his impeachments, Megan L. Whitfield reports.
Display Altered
Trump’s prior label summarized his Supreme Court appointments, the rapid development of COVID-19 vaccines, and stated plainly:
> “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.”
That text also noted his 2020 loss to Joe Biden and his subsequent 2024 comeback, observing that Trump and Grover Cleveland are the only presidents to win non-consecutive terms.
That entire panel has been removed. A new photo-showing Trump leaning over the Oval Office desk, brow furrowed-now stands alone. The gallery credits White House photographer Daniel Torok for the portrait, which is accompanied by small medallions identifying Trump as both the 45th and 47th president.
Who Knew?
Neither the White House nor the Smithsonian would say who requested the change. The White House declined to state whether administration officials sought the edit; a Smithsonian statement, provided to News Of Fort Worth, also offered no explanation.
Last August, however, Trump instructed Smithsonian leadership to review exhibits in advance of the nation’s 250th birthday on July 4. An administration memo said the goal was to:
- Celebrate American exceptionalism
- Remove divisive or partisan narratives
- Restore confidence in shared cultural institutions
White House spokesperson Davis Ingle praised the new photo, asserting it guarantees Trump’s “unmatched aura … will be felt throughout the halls of the National Portrait Gallery.” Ingle did not respond to questions on whether Trump or his aides asked for the impeachment text to be deleted.
Johnson, Clinton, Nixon References Stay
For the moment, labels for other presidents keep their controversial chapters intact:
| President | Event Listed | Year |
|---|---|---|
| Andrew Johnson | Impeachment | 1868 |
| Bill Clinton | Impeachment | 1998 |
| Richard Nixon | Resignation after Watergate | 1974 |
The gallery stated that “the history of Presidential impeachments continues to be represented in our museums, including the National Museum of American History.”
Broader Overhaul
The portrait swap is part of a larger, administration-wide effort to shape federal presentations of U.S. history. Before ordering the Smithsonian review, Trump:
- Fired the head archivist of the National Archives
- Attempted to oust National Portrait Gallery Director Kim Sajet (she kept board backing but later resigned)
- Created a White House “Presidential Walk of Fame” that features gold-framed photos of every president except Biden, who is represented by an autopen image
The Walk’s plaques-described by officials as primarily written by Trump-praise his own record while calling Biden “by far, the worst President in American History.”
What’s Next
Gallery officials say the Trump photo rotation is only the first step in a planned refresh of the America’s Presidents wing this spring. They are experimenting with “tombstone labels” that list basic facts such as artist name and birth-death dates, a format that could further reduce contextual information for all presidents.
Until a new permanent label is installed-or additional directives arrive from the administration-Trump’s display will remain the only one in the gallery lacking an extended biographical summary, underscoring the evolving standards for how America’s leaders are portrayed inside one of its most prestigious museums.
Key Takeaways
- The National Portrait Gallery removed the text panel that mentioned Trump’s two impeachments and the January 6 insurrection.
- Labels for other impeached presidents still carry those facts; Smithsonian leadership has not explained why Trump’s was edited.
- Trump ordered a sweeping review of Smithsonian exhibits last summer, aiming to eliminate “divisive” content before the nation’s 250th anniversary celebrations.
- Additional exhibit changes could follow as the gallery undergoes a broader update this spring.
