Smithsonian Updates Trump Impeachment Exhibit with Concise and Neutral Label
The Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of American History faced criticism after removing references to former President Donald Trump’s impeachments from its presidential exhibition. In response, the museum has updated its exhibit on U.S. presidents to include new content about Trump’s impeachments, after initially removing them claiming it was part of a routine update.
The decision to remove the impeachment references had stirred controversy and accusations of political motivation, particularly following an executive order by Trump to eliminate “divisive” narratives from Smithsonian displays. The museum, however, denies making the changes due to political pressure, stating they were part of their regular update process to maintain consistency and clarity in exhibits.
The updated exhibit includes a revised label explaining Trump’s impeachments with more neutral language. While the previous text provided a detailed account of the charges and mentioned Trump’s solicitation of foreign interference and the events surrounding the January 6 Capitol attack, the updated version describes the charges more succinctly and adds the term “alleged” to describe the interference solicitation.
According to the Smithsonian, this change aligns the impeachment descriptions with other elements in the exhibit, reflecting the museum’s ongoing commitment to intellectual integrity and thoughtful design in its presentation of history. Additionally, it now displays admission tickets from Trump’s impeachment proceedings.
The changes come after substantial public and political reactions, notably a speech by Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer criticizing the initial removal. The Smithsonian assures adherence to historical accuracy and a non-politicized presentation of facts as foundational to its role as a national museum. The updated exhibition aims to offer a balanced view while addressing earlier criticisms of its handling of politically sensitive historical content.