The National Museum of American History in Washington, DC, recently faced backlash for its handling of President Donald Trump’s impeachment proceedings in its exhibition on United States presidents. After removing a display that explained Trump’s double impeachment, the museum faced criticism and accusations of political bias. However, the Smithsonian denied making changes under political pressure.
In response to the controversy, the Smithsonian updated the label describing Trump’s impeachment charges. The new label features shorter and softer descriptions of the charges that led to the president’s double impeachment. The display now includes admissions tickets from the 2019 and 2021 impeachment proceedings, providing a more comprehensive overview of the events.
The Smithsonian emphasized its commitment to intellectual integrity and thoughtful design in presenting historical information to the public. The updated label now includes the word “alleged” in reference to Trump’s solicitation of foreign interference in the 2020 presidential election. The description of Trump’s impeachments has been slightly shortened, and quotes from the Articles of Impeachment related to the January 6 attack on the Capitol have been omitted.
Below are the texts from the previous and updated versions of the Smithsonian’s label:
Previous Version:
“On December 18, 2019, the House impeached Donald Trump for abuse of power and obstruction of Congress. The charges focused on the president’s solicitation of foreign interference 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 charge was incitement of insurrection, based on repeated ‘false statements’ challenging the 2020 election results and his January 6 speech that ‘encouraged – and foreseeable resulted in – lawless action at the Capitol.’ Because Trump’s term ended in January, his acquittal on February 13 made him the first former president tried by the Senate.”
Updated Version:
“On December 18, 2019, the House impeached Donald Trump for abuse of power and obstruction of Congress. The charges focused on the president’s alleged solicitation of foreign interference in the 2020 presidential election and defiance of Congressional subpoenas. Trump was acquitted in January 2020.
On January 13, 2021, Donald Trump became the first president to be impeached twice. The charge was incitement of insurrection based on his challenge of the 2020 election results and on his speech on January 6. Because Trump’s term ended on January 20, he became the first former president tried by the Senate. He was acquitted on February 13, 2021.”
The Smithsonian’s efforts to provide a balanced and accurate representation of historical events reflect its commitment to preserving the nation’s history. The updated label aims to present the information in a more neutral and informative manner, addressing concerns about political bias in the museum’s exhibitions.
