US President Trump's portrait has had references to his two impeachments removed from the Smithsonian's National Portrait Gallery. The updated display now shows a photograph of Trump with no accompanying text, unlike previous versions which included information about his impeachments and Supreme Court nominations.
The change comes as part of an effort by the White House to shape how U.S. history is documented. In August, the White House ordered Smithsonian officials to review all exhibits before the nation's 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence on July 4. The Republican administration stated that the effort aimed to "celebrate American exceptionalism, remove divisive or partisan narratives, and restore confidence in our shared cultural institutions."
Before the changes, a description of Trump's first presidency noted his impeachments, stating he was "Impeached twice" before being acquitted by the Senate. However, this text has now been removed from the display.
The gallery stated that they are undergoing a larger refresh of their American Presidents gallery and will be using quotes or tombstone labels instead of biographical summaries for some new exhibitions. The history of Presidential impeachments remains represented in other museums, including the National Museum of American History.
Trump has made clear his intentions to shape how U.S. history is documented and culture is presented. He has also taken steps to reshape how he and his contemporary rivals are depicted, particularly with regards to their depiction in the "Presidential Walk of Fame" at the White House.
The change comes as part of an effort by the White House to shape how U.S. history is documented. In August, the White House ordered Smithsonian officials to review all exhibits before the nation's 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence on July 4. The Republican administration stated that the effort aimed to "celebrate American exceptionalism, remove divisive or partisan narratives, and restore confidence in our shared cultural institutions."
Before the changes, a description of Trump's first presidency noted his impeachments, stating he was "Impeached twice" before being acquitted by the Senate. However, this text has now been removed from the display.
The gallery stated that they are undergoing a larger refresh of their American Presidents gallery and will be using quotes or tombstone labels instead of biographical summaries for some new exhibitions. The history of Presidential impeachments remains represented in other museums, including the National Museum of American History.
Trump has made clear his intentions to shape how U.S. history is documented and culture is presented. He has also taken steps to reshape how he and his contemporary rivals are depicted, particularly with regards to their depiction in the "Presidential Walk of Fame" at the White House.
just saw that they removed Trump's impeachment references from the Smithsonian's National Portrait Gallery 
I mean, can't say I'm shocked tbh 
it's not like this is the first time politics have influenced historical displays. But still, it's a bit weird to see a president's portrait without any context on it 
especially considering how much drama went down during his two impeachments 
and present it in a more... let's say, "neutral" way 
I mean, can't we just have an open conversation about our past instead of trying to sugarcoat it? 
The gallery might say they're removing 'divisive' narratives, but aren't those exactly what make us human – our flaws and controversies? It's like trying to erase the shadows on a tree by painting them over. You can't change the past, but you can learn from it.
Shouldn't we be learning about all sides of the story, even if they're not always pretty? 
Are museums supposed to just follow what the government says? 
. I mean, can you even believe it? The White House is trying to shape US history and it's like they're really going for it 
. And let's be real, Trump loves this kind of thing... he's all about controlling the narrative and presenting his own version of reality 
. It's crazy to think that now his presidency is gonna be depicted as "just" his first term without any mention of the drama 
. I need to see more about how they're doing this in other museums, like the National Museum of American History... it's all soooo interesting 
. its kinda weird that they're doing this now, after trump was out of office... like, cant we just leave things as they are? 
. plus, whats next? erasing other controversies too? 
! they're trying to move away from all that drama and controversy surrounding Trump's presidency and focus on celebrating American exceptionalism instead. it's like, we can still learn about history without having to sift through all the beef 
. btw, it's kinda cool that they're embracing quotes and tombstone labels for new exhibits – feels like a fresh start! 
. I get what the White House is trying to do – celebrate American exceptionalism and all that – but it feels like they're trying to cover up some pretty big controversies 
Just saw that Trump's portrait got a major makeover at the Smithsonian! They ditched the impeachment references because, let's be real, who wants to associate the 45th Prez with those drama-filled days? 
But seriously, I think this is all about shaping history and culture to fit the administration's agenda. It's kinda interesting how they're trying to "celebrate American exceptionalism" by removing any narrative that might be seen as divisive. Still, I wonder what other changes we'll see before July 4th... 
. and i'm all for refreshin' exhibits and gettin' rid of divisive stuff, but at what cost? are we erasin' parts of our history that need bein' talked about? or just hidin' 'em so they don't offend anyone? need to have a more nuanced conversation about this 
.