Smithsonian museum removes Trump impeachment references amid concerns over political influence

The Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History has removed references to former President Donald Trump’s two impeachments from a display. This change follows a temporary label that included details about Trump’s impeachments, which had been in place since September 2021. The removal is part of a broader review aimed at addressing concerns about potential political bias in the museum's content.

The Washington Post reported that the label was taken down in July amid allegations of political interference, particularly related to pressure from the White House regarding the director of the National Portrait Gallery. Following the removal, the Smithsonian confirmed that a revised exhibit will eventually cover all presidential impeachments. A spokesperson clarified that the original label was intended to be temporary while a more comprehensive update was in development.

Currently, the exhibition “The American Presidency: A Glorious Burden” includes artifacts related to the impeachments of Andrew Johnson, Richard Nixon, and Bill Clinton, but it has minimal information on Trump. The exhibit's online companion briefly mentions Trump, but only features a single item related to him: an “Impeach Trump” protest button from 2017.

In a separate development, the U.S. State Department announced plans to withdraw from UNESCO by the end of 2026, citing the organization's promotion of "divisive social and cultural causes." This decision aligns with the Trump administration's “America First” foreign policy and marks a return to a pattern of U.S. withdrawal from UNESCO, which previously occurred during Trump's first term in 2017. Although President Biden reversed this decision in 2023, the current administration's withdrawal has raised concerns about its implications for cultural expression.

UNESCO, which oversees 1,200 World Heritage Sites globally, is responsible for protecting cultural heritage. Its Director-General, Audrey Azoulay, stated that the withdrawal would have minimal financial impact since the U.S. contributes only 8% of the organization's budget.

The withdrawal has sparked alarm, particularly as the Trump Administration has taken a more authoritarian stance on cultural matters. On the same day, Senator Jim Banks introduced a bill aimed at prohibiting the Smithsonian from promoting what he calls “wokeness” and “divisive narratives.” This legislation seeks to codify a March executive order that advocates for “patriotic” interpretations of American history.

Critics, including Julie Trébault, executive director of Artists at Risk Connection, have expressed concerns that the U.S. withdrawal from UNESCO undermines artistic freedom and cultural heritage. She noted that this pattern of hostility towards multilateral institutions could create a "chilling effect" on creative expression.