Smithsonian Reinstalls References to Trump’s Impeachments with Revised Wording

The Smithsonian Institution has reinstalled material referencing President Donald Trump’s two impeachments at the National Museum of American History — but with changes to its text and placement.

The impeachment references are part of a presidential history exhibit that also includes items related to the impeachments of Bill Clinton and Andrew Johnson, and the impeachment process against Richard Nixon. The Smithsonian removed the original Trump placard last month, prompting public criticism and claims of political pressure. Museum officials insisted the removal was temporary and not the result of outside influence.

The updated display now features a smaller, more subtle placard placed lower in the exhibit, accompanied by admittance tickets to Senate impeachment proceedings. The previous placard, installed in 2021, had blocked the view of other artifacts, including a filing cabinet damaged during the Watergate scandal and the Starr report on Clinton’s impeachment.

The new text makes notable changes. The description of Trump’s first impeachment now refers to the “alleged solicitation of foreign influence in the 2020 presidential election and defiance of Congressional subpoenas.” For his second impeachment, wording about “false statements” challenging the 2020 election results and a quote from the impeachment article alleging Trump’s speech encouraged lawless action at the Capitol have been removed.

Trump, the only U.S. president impeached twice, faced charges in 2019 over alleged efforts to pressure Ukraine to influence the 2020 election and in 2021 for actions related to the Capitol insurrection. He was acquitted both times by the Senate.

In a statement, the Smithsonian said it takes “great care to ensure that what we present to the public reflects both intellectual integrity and thoughtful design,” adding that the changes were part of a permanent update for consistency across the exhibit.

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