Trump's impeachment references re-emerge at the Smithsonian exhibition, showcasing minor yet significant alterations
The National Museum of American History has made changes to its exhibit on President Donald Trump's two impeachments. The alterations were made due to a temporary placard not meeting the museum's standards and blocking part of the case [1].
The Smithsonian Institution, which oversees the museum, clarified that the Trump administration did not request the removal. However, these changes occurred amid a broader White House review of Smithsonian museums aimed at influencing their content, which drew strong criticism from Democrats [1].
The exhibit now presents information about Trump's two impeachments in a lower spot than before, with a more subtle placard near the bottom. The description of Trump's first impeachment now includes the word "alleged" regarding his solicitation of foreign influence in the 2020 presidential election [1].
Some slight, but significant, changes were made to the placard's text. The description of Trump's second impeachment no longer includes a claim that he made repeated false statements challenging his loss in the 2020 election [1].
A more permanent update to the content inside the case was made to replace the removed temporary placard. Admittance tickets to Senate impeachment proceedings are now located near the new placard [1].
The Smithsonian took great care to ensure that what they present to the public reflects both intellectual integrity and thoughtful design. The museum system denied being pressured by any government official to make changes to its exhibits [1].
The old placard blocked the view of much of the rest of the exhibit, including pieces like the filing cabinet damaged by political operatives working under Nixon during the Watergate era and the Starr report [1].
It's important to note that Trump is the only American president to be impeached twice. The first impeachment occurred in 2019 for unlawfully soliciting Ukraine to influence the 2020 presidential election, and the second in 2021 for actions related to the insurrection at the US Capitol. Trump was acquitted both times by the Senate [1].
These changes were made to align the exhibit with museum standards and to present impeachment history more broadly, but they also happened during a politically charged environment that included broader efforts to shape Smithsonian narratives under political pressure [1].
[1] Source: The Washington Post, 2021.
- The ongoing politics surrounding President Trump's impeachments has also impacted migration of information in other aspects of general news, as the Smithsonian Institution revised its exhibit on the impeachments to adhere to museum standards.
- A broader review of Smithsonian museums by the White House has raised concerns about potential influence on policy-and-legislation and content depiction, highlighting a connection between war-and-conflicts and crime-and-justice in the debate.
- Amid this politically charged scenario, discussions around migration policy and legislation could potentially shape exhibits, such as the changed display on Trump's impeachments at the National Museum of American History.
- The blurred lines between politics and everyday occurrences, like car-accidents and fires, are evident as the Smithsonian has found itself in the midst of controversy related to these changes.
- While the exhibit on Trump's impeachments now features a revised temporary placard and tickets to Senate impeachment proceedings, the controversy over its alteration raises questions about the intersection of politics, migration, and broader matters of crime-and-justice and policy-and-legislation in shaping public perspectives.
