Smithsonian Museum Modifies Display on Trump's Impeachments

The Smithsonian has recently made amendments to a museum display that covers President Donald Trump's impeachments, particularly altering the descriptions to tone down the previous terminology. Initially, the National Museum of American History explicitly mentioned in its display that Trump's second impeachment in 2021 was instigated by "false statements" related to the 2020 election and his speech that allegedly led to the Capitol riot. Those phrases were directly pulled from the Senate articles of impeachment, which accused Trump of undermining his presidential duties. In the revised display, the language has been softened to simply state that the insurrection charge was based on his challenge to the election results and his January 6 speech.

Additionally, the information regarding Trump's first impeachment trial in 2020 has been updated to include the term "alleged" before the phrase about solicitation of foreign interference in the presidential election. These changes appear to be a response to pressure from the Trump administration, especially after the former president issued an executive order aimed at eliminating what he deemed "anti-American ideology" within the Smithsonian. Despite this, museum officials have asserted that they were not directed by any government officials to remove content and claimed that the adjustments were part of a regular update process.

The original placard was first introduced to the museum's 'The American Presidency' exhibit in September 2021 and was meant to be temporary until a redesign could be executed by July 2025. According to the Smithsonian, the previous notice did not align with the museum's standards for appearance, organization, and the overall presentation of the exhibit. The museum made the decision to remove the placard since it blocked views of the display's items and did not fit with other sections. An insider source, speaking to The Washington Post, indicated that the placard’s placement was part of a review process to address concerns of political bias, which had been instigated by the pressure from the administration. The Smithsonian has reiterated its commitment to providing accurate historical presentations, basing its work on intellectual integrity and careful design principles.