At a Glance
- The Smithsonian’s National Portrait Gallery removed impeachment details from Donald Trump’s display.
- The wall text that once noted his two acquittals now sits online only; a new photo hangs without explanation.
- References to Andrew Johnson, Bill Clinton, and Richard Nixon remain in place.
- Why it matters: The change signals how the White House is pushing museums to recast U.S. history ahead of the July 4 250th-anniversary celebrations.
President Donald Trump’s photograph at the Smithsonian’s National Portrait Gallery no longer tells visitors he was impeached twice. The label that summarized his first term-and highlighted his historic comeback-has been stripped from the wall, even though it is still available on the museum’s website.
Display Overhaul
The gallery’s “America’s Presidents” exhibition now shows a different Trump image without any accompanying text block. As of Sunday, Trump is the only president whose display lacks an extended biography beside his portrait.
Last August, Trump ordered Smithsonian officials to review every exhibit before the nation marks the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 2025. The White House said the goal is to “ensure alignment with the president’s directive to celebrate American exceptionalism, remove divisive or partisan narratives, and restore confidence in our shared cultural institutions.”
The White House has not confirmed whether it requested the label’s removal. A Smithsonian statement provided to Ethan R. Coleman also declined to address the change directly.
What the Old Label Said
Trump’s previous “portrait label” highlighted several milestones:
- Three Supreme Court appointments
- COVID-19 vaccine development
- Two impeachments on charges of abuse of power and incitement of insurrection after the January 6, 2021, Capitol attack
- Acquittal by the Senate in both trials
- A nonconsecutive second-term victory in 2024, matching Grover Cleveland’s feat
The updated display shows only a brooding Trump leaning over the Oval Office desk, shot by White House photographer Daniel Torok. Medallions mark him as both the 45th and 47th president.
White House spokesman Davis Ingle praised the new image, saying it guarantees Trump’s “unmatched aura … will be felt throughout the halls of the National Portrait Gallery.” Ingle did not respond to questions about whether Trump or his aides sought the text’s removal.
Other Presidents Untouched
References to other presidents’ scandals remain in place:
- Andrew Johnson-impeached in 1868
- Bill Clinton-impeached in 1998
- Richard Nixon-resigned in 1974 after Watergate
The gallery insists “the history of Presidential impeachments continues to be represented in our museums, including the National Museum of American History.”
Broader Shake-Up
Trump has moved aggressively to shape how federal institutions record history:
- He fired the head archivist of the National Archives
- He announced the dismissal of National Portrait Gallery director Kim Sajet, who later resigned despite initial board support
- He ordered a sweeping exhibit review across Smithsonian museums
Inside the White House, Trump created a “Presidential Walk of Fame” lined with gilded photographs of himself and past presidents-excluding Joe Biden, who is represented by an autopen. Trump wrote the accompanying plaques; his own entries praise his legacy, while Biden’s label calls him “by far, the worst President in American History.”
Gallery’s Explanation
A gallery statement said the museum is “beginning its planned update of the America’s Presidents gallery which will undergo a larger refresh this Spring.” It added that some new displays may use “quotes or tombstone labels” listing only basic facts such as the artist’s name.
Sitting presidents are traditionally shown in photographs until their official paintings are finished. The gallery previously rotated two other Trump photos before installing Torok’s image.
For now, visitors who view Trump’s portrait will not learn from the wall that he was impeached twice-an omission that aligns with the administration’s push to recast divisive episodes as the nation approaches its semiquincentennial celebrations.
