Smithsonian denies political pressure in removing Trump impeachment display

The Smithsonian Institution clarified on Saturday that it was not influenced by political pressure when removing a segment of the National Museum of American History's exhibit on presidential impeachments, which referenced President Donald Trump’s two impeachment attempts. Recent reports indicated that the museum revised the display last month following an internal review for partisan bias, fueling speculation about government interference. However, the Smithsonian emphasized that the decision was solely based on internal standards. A spokesperson explained that the removed placard, intended as a temporary addition to a longstanding exhibition, did not align with the exhibit's overall presentation, obstructed views of nearby artifacts, and did not meet aesthetic and placement criteria. "We made the decision to remove the placard without any request from governmental authorities," the statement affirmed. Previously, the Smithsonian restored the impeachment section to its 2008 version, which only highlights three presidents—Clinton, Nixon, and Johnson—who faced serious impeachment proceedings. The current content regarding Trump’s impeachment, added in September 2021, was meant as ...