The Smithsonian Institution has announced that it will restore references to Donald Trump’s two impeachments in an updated exhibit “in the coming weeks”, following their removal from a display on presidential power limits. The museum denied any pressure from the Trump administration to remove the content.
The references were originally added in 2021 to the National Museum of American History’s “Limits of Presidential Power” exhibit, which covers the impeachments of Bill Clinton and Andrew Johnson, and the Watergate scandal leading to Richard Nixon’s resignation. The placard was removed because it did not meet the museum’s standards in appearance and location, and it blocked the view of objects inside its case, according to a statement.
The removal sparked concerns of historical whitewashing to appease the president. However, the museum stated, “We were not asked by any administration or other government official to remove content from the exhibit.” Museum spokesperson Phillip Zimmerman had earlier pledged that a future updated exhibit would include all impeachments.
Trump is the only US president to have been impeached twice. In 2019, he was impeached for pressuring Ukraine’s president to investigate Joe Biden, and in 2021 for incitement of insurrection following the Capitol attack. The House voted for impeachment both times, but the Senate acquitted him.
