Walking through the National Portrait Gallery right now feels a bit different than it did even a year ago. If you head toward the "America's Presidents" exhibition, you'll see a new face—well, an old face in a new way. Recently, the Smithsonian made some waves by swapping out Donald Trump's portrait and, more notably, stripping away the text that used to mention his two impeachments.
It’s a big deal.
People are talking about "historical revisionism," while others say it’s just a "design refresh." But if you’re looking for the actual story behind the Smithsonian Trump impeachments exhibit changes, you have to look at the timeline of events that started back in 2025. It wasn't just one single change; it’s been a series of removals, re-installations, and "tombstone labels" that have left a lot of visitors—and historians—scratching their heads.
Why the Smithsonian Trump Impeachments Exhibit Changes are Happening Now
Basically, the museum is in a tough spot. In early January 2026, the National Portrait Gallery replaced a 2017 photograph of Donald Trump with a new, black-and-white image taken by White House photographer Daniel Torok. In this one, Trump is leaning over the Resolute Desk with a pretty intense scowl.
The photo change isn't the controversy. The controversy is the missing wall text.
The old placard was detailed. It mentioned his three Supreme Court appointments, the COVID-19 vaccine development, and—crucially—that he was "impeached twice, on charges of abuse of power and incitement of insurrection." It even noted the January 6 attack on the Capitol. Now? That's all gone. The new label is what curators call a "tombstone label." It's tiny. It just says his name, his birth year, and that he’s the 45th and 47th president.
You can literally still see the outline of the old, larger sign on the wall where the paint hasn't faded. It’s kind of an awkward look for a world-class museum.
The Pressure from the Top
Honestly, you can't talk about these changes without mentioning the executive orders. Back in March 2025, President Trump signed an order titled "Restoring Truth and Sanity to American History." The goal was to scrub "divisive" or "race-centered" ideologies from federal institutions. He specifically took aim at the Smithsonian, calling for a review of exhibits to ensure they celebrate "American exceptionalism."
Then, in May 2025, things got personal. Trump tried to fire the National Portrait Gallery’s director, Kim Sajet. He called her "highly partisan." While the Smithsonian's Board of Regents initially blocked the move, Sajet eventually resigned. By August, the administration ordered a full-scale review of all 19 Smithsonian museums.
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A Pattern of Edits at the Museum of American History
This isn't the first time the Smithsonian has tweaked things under pressure. Over at the National Museum of American History, in an exhibit called The American Presidency: A Glorious Burden, a similar drama played out in late 2025.
They had a temporary board that explained the double impeachment. In July, they took it down. People freaked out. After a lot of public backlash and some choice words from Senate leaders, the museum put a new label back up in August 2025. But the wording was... different.
- The "Alleged" Factor: The new text added the word "alleged" to the description of the 2020 election interference.
- Missing Quotes: It removed direct quotes from the Articles of Impeachment that were in the previous version.
- The Placement: The new sign was smaller and placed lower, making it way less prominent than before.
Smithsonian officials insist these are just "planned updates" to ensure "intellectual integrity and thoughtful design." They argue that the history of impeachment is still represented because they added Senate admittance tickets from the proceedings to the display case. But critics, like those reporting for The Art Newspaper and The Guardian, see it as a clear pivot to avoid losing federal funding.
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The "Tombstone Label" Defense
The Smithsonian's official stance, voiced by spokesperson Concetta Duncan, is that they are "exploring" these minimalist labels for several new displays. They want to move away from long biographical summaries and let the art speak for itself.
The problem? Trump is currently the only president in the "America's Presidents" gallery without a detailed biographical text. If you walk over to Andrew Johnson or Bill Clinton, their labels still mention their impeachments. Richard Nixon’s label still talks about the Watergate scandal and his resignation.
It makes the "standard update" excuse feel a little thin to a lot of folks.
What Most People Get Wrong About Museum Changes
There’s a common misconception that museum exhibits are "permanent." They aren't. Curators move things all the time. However, the timing here—coinciding with a 2026 deadline for a "patriotic" review of all content before the U.S. 250th anniversary—is what has everyone on edge.
Historians are worried about "preemptive compliance." That’s a fancy way of saying the museum might be censoring itself to stay on the administration's good side. If you visit today, you’re seeing a version of history that has been carefully sanded down.
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Actionable Insights for Your Next Visit
If you’re planning a trip to D.C. to see the Smithsonian Trump impeachments exhibit changes for yourself, here is how to get the full picture:
- Check Both Museums: Don't just go to the National Portrait Gallery. Head over to the National Museum of American History to see the Glorious Burden exhibit. Compare how they handle Trump versus Nixon or Clinton.
- Look for the "Ghost" Labels: At the Portrait Gallery, look closely at the wall around the current Trump photo. The physical trace of the removed impeachment text is still visible if the light hits it right.
- Use the Digital Archives: The Smithsonian still hosts the original, more detailed text on its website. If you want to know what they used to say about the January 6 events and the Senate acquittals, you’ll have to pull it up on your phone while standing in the gallery.
- Note the "America's Presidents" Closure: Keep in mind that the entire gallery is scheduled to close for a "larger refresh" from April 6 to May 14, 2026. If you want to see the current "transition" state, you need to go before then.
The reality is that museums have always been political battlegrounds. We just don't usually see the "editing" happen so clearly in real-time. Whether these changes are a necessary evolution or a worrying retreat from facts depends largely on who you ask, but the physical evidence on the walls of the Smithsonian tells a story of a very tense 2026.