January 1, Smithsonian Swaps Trump Portrait, Cuts Impeachment Notes

Wyatt’s Take

• Smithsonian unveils new Trump portrait, shortens display text
• Mentions of impeachments and Jan. 6 quietly removed
• Display change follows pushback against “woke” museum culture

The Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery revealed a fresh photo portrait of President Trump, swapping out the old one with somber black-and-white imagery. Text that brought up his impeachments and January 6 was taken down, replaced with a simple note of his years in office.

The move comes right after Trump called out museums for being “woke,” and the White House demanded the Smithsonian hand over records or risk losing federal funds. This leaves Trump as the only president at the exhibit without a longer description that highlights major events of his time in office, something other impeached presidents like Clinton and Johnson still have.

“For the first time in history, the Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery has hung up an iconic photo taken by the White House honoring President Trump,” White House spokesman Davis Ingle said. “His unmatched aura will be seen and felt throughout the halls of the National Portrait Gallery.”

The National Portrait Gallery says they are testing shorter signs that just list basics, such as the artist’s name. Trump cheered the switch, posting a photo of the new display on social media.

The new photo is a stand-in until an official painted portrait is finished. This update follows a wider White House review of all museums ahead of America’s 250th birthday. Trump continues to call out museums for telling what he sees as negative stories about the country.

If you want to see what’s really changing in Washington’s halls, it pays to watch who gets remembered—and how.

Wyatt Matters

This story shows how the fight over American values plays out in even our oldest museums. Middle America wants honest history—good and bad—not politics hiding as culture.

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