The Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History final month temporarily eliminated a board that referenced President Donald Trump’s two impeachments from an exhibit on the American presidency.
In an announcement to NCS on Thursday, the Smithsonian Institution stated the choice, which was first reported by The Washington Post, was made after a evaluation of the museum’s “legacy content” this yr. The establishment stated in an announcement Saturday that it was not requested by “any administration or other government official to remove content from the exhibit” and that the exhibit “will be updated in the coming weeks to reflect all impeachment proceedings in our nation’s history.”
Unmentioned within the statements was Trump’s govt order earlier this yr that appeared crafted to direct the Smithsonian to soften or distort forthright discussions about sure features of American historical past, which might embody the legacy of racism within the United States and components of Trump’s personal history-making however controversial first time period.
The exhibit had final been up to date in 2008 and included details about the impeachments of Presidents Andrew Johnson and Bill Clinton, and the impeachment course of towards President Richard Nixon, who resigned over the Watergate scandal earlier than he may very well be formally impeached.
Trump is the one president in American historical past to be impeached twice: In 2019 on prices alleging he unlawfully solicited Ukraine to affect the 2020 presidential election, and in 2021 for his actions associated to the rebel on the US Capitol that yr. He was acquitted each occasions by the Senate.
In September 2021, the Smithsonian positioned a board over the exhibit that learn: “Case under redesign (history happens*)” and referenced Trump’s two impeachments.
“On December 18, 2019, the House impeached Donald Trump for abuse of power and obstruction of Congress,” the reference to Trump’s first impeachment learn. “The charges focused on the president’s solicitation of foreign influence in the 2020 presidential election and his defiance of Congressional subpoenas. President Trump was acquitted in January 2020.”
“On January 13, 2021, Donald Trump became the first president to be impeached twice,” the reference to his second impeachment learn. “The charge was incitement of insurrection, based on repeated ‘false statements’ challenging the 2020 election results and his January 6 speech that ‘encouraged — and foreseeably resulted in — lawless action at the Capitol. Because Trump’s term ended on January 20, his acquittal on February 13 made him the first former president tried by the Senate.”
The Smithsonian stated in an announcement that the board “was intended to be a short-term measure to address current events at the time, however, the label remained in place until July 2025.”
The assertion added: “A large permanent gallery like The American Presidency that opened in 2000, requires significant amount of time and funding to update and renew. A future and updated exhibit will include all impeachments.”
The Smithsonian stated in a Saturday assertion that the placard “did not meet the museum’s standards in appearance, location, timeline and overall presentation. It was not consistent with other sections in the exhibit and moreover blocked the view of the objects inside its case.”
Asked concerning the elimination of references to Trump’s impeachment, a White House spokesperson stated in an announcement, “Unfortunately for far too long the Smithsonian museums have highlighted divisive, DEI exhibits which are out of touch with mainstream America.”
“We are fully supportive of updating displays to highlight American greatness,” spokesperson Davis Ingle stated. “The Trump administration will continue working to ensure that the Smithsonian removes all improper ideology and once again unites and instills pride in all Americans regarding our great history.”
Trump’s order aimed on the Smithsonian is only one instance of his efforts to exert his affect on American cultural, athletic and creative establishments and browbeat them into eliminating features of their work.
They embody his efforts to take over the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, to have the Washington Commanders soccer group to revert to their previous title and to cease the participation of transgender folks in girls’s sports activities.
This story has been up to date with further developments.