The National Portrait Gallery in Washington, DC, has quietly removed references to Donald Trump’s two impeachments and the January 6 Capitol attack from his presidential portrait plaque.
Previously, the plaque noted: “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.”
Other presidential plaques, such as Bill Clinton’s, still mention past impeachments and controversies, making Trump’s the only one to be edited. The museum’s spokesperson said the change reflects a move toward “less descriptive tombstone labels,” though it is unclear if the edit was requested by Trump’s administration.
This update is part of a broader trend under Trump, who has previously criticized the Smithsonian for allegedly focusing on slavery and spreading “anti-American ideology.” A White House statement indicated that current and past exhibitions will undergo review to ensure alignment with Trump’s perspective on history.
Historian Ian Garner told Metro, “What Trump is doing looks like a pretty naked attempt at sanitising history in order to maximise his own power.” He added that if successful, these changes could not only reshape understanding of the past but also influence the direction of the future.
The edit comes months after the removal of the famous 1863 photo, “The Scourged Back,” highlighting ongoing debates about historical representation at the Smithsonian.
