Administration's Decision Overlooked: Impeachment Procedure Reference Preserved in Museum Exhibit by Trump Officials - Museum announces that the Trump administration has not intervened in the process of items' removal from the institution.
Headline: Smithsonian Removes Trump Impeachment Notes from Exhibit, Clarifies Decision
The Smithsonian National Museum of American History has removed notes referencing President Donald Trump's two impeachments from its exhibit, a move that was driven by museum curation and display standards, not any White House pressure or political motivation.
The temporary label, added in 2021, did not meet the museum’s standards for appearance, location, timeline, and overall presentation. Moreover, it blocked the view of displayed objects. The museum clarified that the White House did not request the removal and that Trump’s impeachments will be included in a later updated exhibit.
The label was a short-term addition made to address current events but remained in place longer than intended. The museum opted to restore the exhibit to its 2008 appearance temporarily, pending a comprehensive overhaul, because other parts of the exhibit hadn't been updated since 2008.
The Smithsonian emphasized its commitment to scholarship free from political influence and noted that a future exhibit will feature all presidential impeachments, including those of Trump.
It's important to note that Trump is the only president to have faced two impeachment proceedings. He survived his first impeachment proceedings during his term (2017-2021) because the Republicans rejected the proceedings in the Senate. Similarly, he survived his second impeachment proceedings during the same term.
The sign in the museum currently lists three presidents who have been "seriously confronted with removal," which includes Democrats Andrew Johnson and Bill Clinton, as well as Republican Richard Nixon, who resigned. Trump is not the first president listed on the museum sign.
In March, Trump signed a decree to make the Smithsonian's nearly 20 national museums "a symbol of inspiration and American greatness" again. However, the removal of the notes from the exhibition was not due to any instructions from the government or other official representatives.
Contrary to some reports, the content review was not agreed to under pressure from the White House. The Trump Administration did not order the removal of Impeachment Procedure notes from the museum.
Since his re-election in January, Trump has been targeting cultural institutions and their perceived left-wing ideology. This includes Trump tasking Vice President JD Vance with removing inappropriate ideologies from the Smithsonian museums.
However, the Smithsonian remains steadfast in its commitment to providing an unbiased and scholarly presentation of American history. The museum's decision to remove the notes was based solely on its standards regarding appearance, placement, timeline, and overall presentation. The museum looks forward to featuring all presidential impeachments, including Trump's, in a future exhibit.
- Despite claims by some sources, the White House did not order the removal of President Donald Trump's impeachment notes from the Smithsonian National Museum of American History's exhibit.
- The museum's decision to temporarily remove the impeachment notes was based on its own standards for appearance, placement, timeline, and overall presentation, not any political motivation or pressure.
- The Smithsonian, as a rooftop organization dedicated to scholarship free from political influence, will include President Trump's impeachments in a future exhibit, reflecting its commitment to providing an unbiased and scholarly presentation of American history.
