White House pressure on Smithsonian to eliminate Trump impeachment mentions denied
Smithsonian Affirms Independence in Exhibit Decisions, Plans to Include Trump's Impeachments
The Smithsonian National Museum for American History has confirmed that it will update its exhibit on the American presidency to include references to President Donald Trump's two impeachments, following the removal of a temporary label that did not meet the museum's standards.
The Smithsonian clarified that it was not pressured by the White House or any government official to remove content from the exhibit. The label, which referred to Trump's impeachment in 2021 for incitement of insurrection and his earlier impeachment in 2019 for pushing Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to investigate Joe Biden, was removed in July 2025 during a content review.
While President Trump issued an executive order in March 2025 aimed at supervising Smithsonian efforts to "remove improper ideology," the museum reaffirmed its commitment to be free from political or partisan influence. The museum's statement emphasised that the removal of the label was an internal curatorial decision based on exhibit standards, not a result of pressure from the White House or any government official.
The exhibit, "The American Presidency: A Glorious Burden," was temporarily reverted to its 2008 appearance, which included references only to the impeachments of Andrew Johnson, Richard Nixon, and Bill Clinton. However, the museum has confirmed plans to update the exhibit to include all presidential impeachments, including Trump's two, reflecting all historical impeachment proceedings.
The exact date for the updated exhibit has not been specified, but the Smithsonian has stated that it will be ready in the coming weeks. The museum spokesperson, Phillip Zimmerman, previously pledged that "a future and updated exhibit will include all impeachments."
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The Smithsonian's exhibit on the American presidency also includes materials on the impeachment of Presidents Bill Clinton and Andrew Johnson and the Watergate scandal that led to President Richard Nixon's resignation. The Republican-led Senate acquitted President Trump twice. The Democratic majority in the House voted for Trump's impeachment twice.
In summary, the Smithsonian's decision to update its exhibit on the American presidency to include references to President Trump's impeachments is a testament to the museum's commitment to historical accuracy and independence from political influence. The museum will restore the references to Trump's impeachments in an upcoming exhibit update.
The exhibit's restoration, which includes references to President Trump's two impeachments, underscores the Smithsonian's policy-and-legislation independence regarding exhibit decisions and commitment to general-news accuracy. The museum, remaining apolitical and uninfluenced, will move forward with updates to faithfully represent all historical impeachment proceedings.
