In a series of significant updates to the “America’s Presidents” exhibition, the Smithsonian’s National Portrait Gallery has removed text referencing the impeachments of Donald Trump and replaced his featured portrait with a new image. The changes come during a broader “content review” of the Institution, following executive orders and administrative pressure to align museum narratives with a focus on “American greatness.”
Portrait Swap and Text Revision
As of January 2026, visitors to the National Portrait Gallery noted that the previous photograph of Donald Trump—a 2017 image by photojournalist Matt McClain—has been replaced with a black-and-white photograph by White House photographer Daniel Torok.
More striking to historians and visitors than the image change is the modification of the accompanying biographical placard. The previous text provided a detailed account of Trump’s first term, explicitly mentioning his two impeachments in 2019 and 2021, as well as the January 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol. The new placard has been drastically shortened, omitting these details and instead noting his years in office and general biographical data. Observant visitors noted that the outline of the previous, larger sign was still visible on the gallery wall beneath the new, smaller replacement.
The Context of the Content Review
These changes are part of a larger shift within the Smithsonian Institution. In March 2025, an executive order titled “Restoring Truth and Sanity to American History” was issued, directing a review of Smithsonian materials to remove what the administration described as “improper ideology” and “divisive narratives.”
The Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History had already faced scrutiny in July 2025 when it temporarily removed references to Trump’s impeachments from its “The American Presidency: A Glorious Burden” exhibit. While the museum initially stated the removal was to restore the display to its 2008 appearance pending a permanent update, it later installed a “shorter and safer” label that used more neutral language, such as describing certain events as “alleged.”
Political Pressure and Leadership Changes
The revisions follow a period of intense friction between the White House and Smithsonian leadership. Former National Portrait Gallery Director Kim Sajet resigned in 2025 after being publicly criticized by the administration as “highly partisan.”
While the Smithsonian maintains that it remains an independent entity, the White House has suggested that future funding for the institution—which receives the majority of its budget from Congress—could be contingent on the results of these ongoing content reviews. Critics and organizations like the American Historical Association have expressed concern, arguing that political interference in curatorial decisions risks the “integrity and accuracy of historical interpretation.”
The National Portrait Gallery defended the portrait swap as a standard rotation of its collection, noting that it has previously cycled different images of the President. However, the timing and the specific omission of the impeachment history continue to spark debate over how the nation’s “official” history is presented to the public.
Sources & Links
- The Washington Post: Smithsonian removes Trump impeachment text as it swaps his portrait
- The Guardian: Trump’s assault on the Smithsonian: ‘The goal is to reframe the entire culture of the US’
- NPR/OPB: Trump’s impeachments have been removed from a Smithsonian exhibit, for now
- Hyperallergic: Smithsonian’s New Trump Impeachment Label Is Shorter and Safer
- The Art Newspaper: Trump administration puts renewed pressure on Smithsonian to turn over materials for review
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