Smithsonian Removes Trump Impeachment Placard, Cites Curatorial Standards
The Smithsonian Institution has removed a placard referencing former US President Donald Trump’s two impeachments from its National Museum of American History exhibit, attributing the decision to curatorial standards rather than political pressure.
The placard’s removal has sparked intense debate, with critics accusing the Smithsonian of succumbing to government pressure.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer condemned the move, stating, “You can run, but you cannot hide from the judgment of history.”
The exhibit now omits Trump’s historic dual impeachments in 2019 and 2021, which has drawn widespread criticism.
The Smithsonian Institution maintains that the decision to remove the placard was based solely on curatorial standards, citing issues with the display’s “appearance, location, timeline, and overall presentation.”
According to the institution, the placard obstructed the view of artifacts in the display case and was inconsistent with other sections of the exhibit.
The Smithsonian has pledged to revise the impeachment section of the exhibit in the coming weeks to reflect all impeachment proceedings in US history.
The controversy surrounding the placard’s removal comes amid heightened scrutiny of cultural institutions under Trump’s second term. In March, Trump signed an executive order targeting “improper ideology” within federally funded cultural institutions, including the Smithsonian.
The order calls for removing exhibits that allegedly “degrade shared American values” or “divide Americans based on race.” Critics argue that this order could compromise the Smithsonian’s independence and lead to the whitewashing of history.
The Smithsonian Institution, which oversees 21 museums and the National Zoo, has faced growing debate over historical truth, government pressure, and institutional independence. While the institution asserts its independence, the removal of the placard has raised concerns about potential government influence on its exhibits and programming.
