President Trump’s influence over cultural institutions has sparked controversy after references to his two impeachments were removed from a Smithsonian exhibit, raising questions about political control over historical memory.

At a Glance

• In July 2025, the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History removed acknowledgments of Trump’s 2019 and 2021 impeachments from its “Limits of Presidential Power” exhibit.
• The removed panel had been added in 2021 but was reverted to a 2008 version that omits Trump entirely.
• The Smithsonian says the exhibit is under content review, and future versions will include all presidential impeachments.
• Critics say the change follows pressure tied to Trump’s March 31, 2025 Executive Order 14253 targeting ideological content in federal museums.
• Historians warn that censorship-like revisionism in public history undermines institutional independence and public trust.

Power, Museums, and Memory

The exhibit change came after a White House-led review of heritage content and restitution of older labels, even though updates to exhibit topics like Congress and impeachment had not been refreshed since 2008.

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The Smithsonian maintains the removal is temporary and notes that online summaries still mention Trump’s impeachments, albeit without detail.

Executive Orders and Institutional Control

President Trump signed Executive Order 14253 in March 2025, instructing oversight of historical narratives in Smithsonian institutions and eliminating content deemed ideologically divisive. The order empowers newly appointed leadership and federal oversight to influence exhibits—effectively aligning public history with a desired national narrative.

The Debate Widens

Academic and museum experts, including former Nixon Library director Timothy Naftali, argue that museums should resist politically motivated alteration and maintain educational integrity. Princeton historian Julian Zelizer explicitly cited implications for how the public perceives leaders and national identity amid rising cultural control.

What’s Next?

The Smithsonian promises full restoration of impeachment history in future updates, but no timeline has been provided, and comprehensive exhibit renovation can take years. Meanwhile, legal and public scrutiny continues, raising broader questions: when does institutional revision cross into erasure, and can federal museums maintain independence under political pressure?