The Smithsonian‘s National Portrait Gallery removed a reference this week to President Donald Trump‘s two impeachments during his first term from a plaque commemorating his presidency.
Until recently, the portrait label, the original text for which is still available online, provided a detailed summary of Trump’s first term, including his Supreme Court nominations and his administration’s role in developing COVID-19 vaccines. The text concluded with a note on Trump’s legal history.
“Impeached twice, on charges of abuse of power and incitement of insurrection after supporters attacked the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021, he was acquitted by the Senate in both trials,” the Smithsonian’s online text says.
The updated display now features a new black-and-white photograph taken by White House photographer Daniel Torok, showing Trump leaning over the Resolute desk in the Oval Office.
White House spokesman Davis Ingle celebrated the new portrait and said in a statement to the New York Times that it shows the president’s “unmatched aura.”
The accompanying text was stripped of all biographical context, including his birth year, his status as the 45th and 47th president, and the years in office.
The Smithsonian characterized the change as part of a “planned update” and said Trump’s impeachment history remains documented in the National Museum of American History.
A spokesperson for the Smithsonian said the change to Trump’s display is part of a larger design transition.
“For some new exhibitions and displays, the museum has been exploring quotes or tombstone labels, which provide only general information, such as the artist’s name,” the spokesperson said in a statement to NPR.
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The news comes at a wavering time for the museum, as Trump signed an executive order in March 2025 aimed at eliminating what he called “divisive race-centered ideology” from the Smithsonian.
The executive order also called for a mandatory internal review of all museum content to ensure it celebrates “American exceptionalism.”