Smithsonian unveils new Trump portrait, removes references to impeachments and capitol riot

Smithsonian updates Trump portrait display

The Smithsonian Institution’s National Portrait Gallery has unveiled a new photographic portrait of US President Donald Trump and removed most references to his two impeachments and the January 6, 2021, Capitol attack, The Washington Post reported.

The White House shared an image of the updated America’s Presidents exhibit on its social media platforms, while Trump also promoted the portrait on his Truth Social account.

The black-and-white photograph, taken by White House photographer Daniel Torok, shows Trump seated at the Resolute Desk, his fists resting on the surface as he looks directly into the camera.

NEW at the National Portrait Gallery in Washington, D.C.:President Donald J. Trump. pic.twitter.com/UbHweGydaX

— The White House (@WhiteHouse) January 10, 2026

“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 spokesperson Davis Ingle said in a statement, according to The Hill.

“His unmatched aura will be seen and felt throughout the halls of the National Portrait Gallery,” Ingle added.

The new portrait has replaced one of former President Joe Biden, which had previously been the first image visitors encountered upon entering the exhibit. As visitors proceed through the gallery in chronological order, they now see portraits of all US presidents, with Trump’s displayed prominently.

The earlier Trump portrait depicted him with his hands folded and featured two small wooden plaques marked “45” and “47”, highlighting his two non-consecutive terms in office — a distinction last held by Grover Cleveland.

That earlier display also included text referring to Trump’s impeachments and the Capitol attack. The updated placard, however, lists only his years in office. Other presidential portraits in the gallery continue to carry descriptive text, including references to impeachment in the case of former President Bill Clinton.

Concetta Duncan, a spokeswoman for the National Portrait Gallery, told The Washington Post that the museum is transitioning towards using “tombstone labels”, which provide only essential details about each portrait.

It remains unclear whether the changes were directed by the administration, though updates to the exhibit had been anticipated following Trump’s return to the White House.