White House sets Jan. 13 deadline for Smithsonian to detail 250th‑anniversary exhibits amid funding threats
The White House set a Jan. 13, 2026 deadline for the Smithsonian to turn over detailed lists of all displays, objects and wall text tied to the U.S. 250th anniversary — escalating a months‑long review that began with a September request and a Dec. 18 letter from budget director Russell Vought and domestic policy chief Vince Haley warning that museums must portray the nation positively or face possible funding cuts. The demand, rooted in a March 2025 executive order and the placement of Vice President J.D. Vance on the Smithsonian Board of Regents to purge “improper ideology,” comes as the National Portrait Gallery quietly replaced former President Trump’s extended label with a minimalist “tombstone” placard (and a new portrait), a move critics and historians call an unprecedented intervention that risks whitewashing history.
📌 Key Facts
- The White House set a Jan. 13, 2026 deadline for the Smithsonian to turn over detailed lists of displays, objects and wall text related to the U.S. 250th‑anniversary exhibits (and other exhibits), warning the institution could face cuts to its federal funding if it does not comply.
- A Dec. 18 White House letter from budget director Russell Vought and domestic policy chief Vince Haley demanded that museum leaders not be 'confused' about portraying the U.S. as 'among the greatest forces for good,' and warned Americans would have 'no patience' for museums that do not convey a positive view — an escalation after an initial September request the White House said was insufficient.
- Background actions include President Trump’s March 2025 executive order, 'Restoring Truth and Sanity to American History,' which accused the Smithsonian of fostering 'national shame,' ordered an end to funding for exhibits deemed to 'divide Americans,' and prompted an August 2025 comprehensive review of content in eight Smithsonian museums ahead of the 250th anniversary.
- Vice President J.D. Vance has been placed on the Smithsonian Board of Regents and was directed to push for removal of exhibits and programs with what the administration calls 'improper ideology,' specifically citing shows involving transgender athletes or presentations of race as a social construct.
- At the National Portrait Gallery the Smithsonian replaced the earlier portrait of Donald Trump with a new black‑and‑white photo by White House photographer Daniel Torok (showing Trump at the Resolute Desk) and removed extended interpretive wall text, leaving a minimalist 'tombstone' placard listing only birth year, status as 45th and 47th president, term dates and photographer credit; as of reporting, Trump is the only president in the 'America’s Presidents' gallery without extended wall text.
- The Smithsonian says the change is part of a 'planned update' experimenting with minimalist labels and that impeachment information remains elsewhere in the institution; the museum and the White House have declined to say whether the White House specifically requested the edit.
- Reactions are sharply divided: White House spokesman Davis Ingle praised the new portrait and President Trump publicly welcomed the change, while historians, a retired National Archives archivist and museum‑studies scholar Suse Anderson warned the White House demands and label edits represent unprecedented intervention, risk 'whitewashing' history and threaten museums’ institutional independence and evidence‑based scholarship.
📊 Relevant Data
In 2022, eighth-grade White students had an average NAEP U.S. History score of 268, compared to 242 for Black students, 247 for Hispanic students, and 269 for Asian/Pacific Islander students.
Average National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) U.S. history scale score, standard deviation, and percentage of students attaining achievement levels, by grade level, selected student characteristics, and percentile: Selected years, 1994 through 2022 — National Center for Education Statistics
According to a 2023 Gallup poll, 87% of Black adults support teaching the current impacts of racism in U.S. schools, compared to 72% of White adults and 77% of Hispanic adults.
Majorities Support Racial Education in U.S. Schools — Gallup News
In 2010, following complaints from the Catholic League and threats from Republican members of Congress to cut funding, the Smithsonian Institution removed a video artwork by David Wojnarowicz from its 'Hide/Seek' exhibit at the National Portrait Gallery due to controversy over its depiction of religious imagery and themes related to the AIDS crisis.
📰 Source Timeline (6)
Follow how coverage of this story developed over time
January 13, 2026
10:22 PM
Smithsonian faces a deadline to show Trump its plans for exhibits for America's 250th birthday
New information:
- Confirms a Tuesday (Jan. 13, 2026) deadline for the Smithsonian to turn over detailed lists of all displays, objects and wall text related to the 250th anniversary and other exhibits.
- Quotes directly from the Dec. 18 White House letter by budget director Russell Vought and domestic policy chief Vince Haley insisting museum leaders must not be 'confused' about portraying the U.S. as 'among the greatest forces for good' and warning Americans will have 'no patience' for museums not conveying a positive view.
- Clarifies that the White House initially requested materials in September and deemed the Smithsonian’s earlier production insufficient, escalating to this detailed ultimatum.
- Reiterates that Vice President JD Vance has been placed on the Smithsonian Board of Regents to 'remove improper ideology' from the institution, in the context of this 250th‑anniversary push.
- Adds expert reaction from historians and a retired National Archives archivist warning that the demand amounts to 'whitewashing' history and runs against evidence‑based, nuanced historical work.
6:43 PM
What do Trump demands mean for Smithsonian’s independence?
New information:
- Reveals that the Trump administration imposed a Jan. 13, 2026 deadline for the Smithsonian to turn over records about museum content or risk possible cuts to its federal funding.
- Details a March 2025 executive order titled 'Restoring Truth and Sanity to American History,' in which Trump accused the Smithsonian of fostering 'national shame' and ordered an end to funding for exhibits he says 'divide Americans based on race.'
- Reports that Trump directed Vice President JD Vance, in his role on the Smithsonian Board of Regents, to push for removal of exhibits or programs with 'improper ideology,' specifically citing shows featuring transgender athletes or those presenting race as a social construct.
- Describes an August 2025 administration letter announcing a comprehensive review of content in eight Smithsonian museums ahead of the U.S. 250th anniversary celebrations.
- Provides expert context from museum‑studies scholar Suse Anderson, who says the aggressiveness of this intervention is unprecedented for the Smithsonian and underscores why museums built ethical codes to protect institutional independence.
January 12, 2026
4:17 AM
Smithsonian replaces Trump portrait display, strips Jan. 6 and impeachment references from accompanying text
New information:
- Details that the original label text explicitly said Trump was 'Impeached twice — on charges of abuse of power and incitement of insurrection after supporters attacked the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021 — he was acquitted by the Senate in both trials,' and that this entire passage was removed.
- Confirms the new minimal placard lists only Trump’s years in office and that, as of Sunday, Trump is the only president in the exhibit without extended interpretive text, while Clinton and Andrew Johnson’s labels still note their impeachments.
- Reports that the Smithsonian has installed a new black‑and‑white portrait by White House photographer Daniel Torok, showing Trump with fists on the Resolute Desk, replacing the earlier black‑background, folded‑hands image.
- Adds that the portrait and label changes follow a White House order demanding extensive internal Smithsonian records by Jan. 13 under threat of potential funding cuts, after Trump publicly attacked the museums as 'woke' and 'out of control.'
- Includes a new White House quote from spokesman Davis Ingle praising the display and saying Trump's 'unmatched aura will be seen and felt throughout the halls of the National Portrait Gallery,' and notes Trump publicly praised the change on Truth Social.
January 11, 2026
10:33 PM
National Portrait Gallery removes impeachment references next to Trump photo
New information:
- Confirms that the new wall text next to Trump’s portrait in the 'America’s Presidents' gallery no longer mentions his two impeachments or broader details of his presidency.
- Details that the new label is a bare 'tombstone' listing only Trump’s birth year, status as 45th and 47th president, term dates, and photographer information, compared with the prior text that referenced his Supreme Court nominations, COVID-19 vaccine development, and impeachments.
- Reports the Smithsonian’s official explanation that this is part of a planned update experimenting with minimalist labels, and notes that impeachment information remains elsewhere in the institution.
- Reiterates that Trump signed a March executive order to eliminate 'divisive race-centered ideology' from Smithsonian museums and ordered an internal review of eight museums over the summer, including the Portrait Gallery, and that he tried to fire former NPG director Kim Sajet as 'a highly partisan person.'
- Quotes White House spokesperson Davis Ingle calling the new portrait an 'iconic photo' whose 'unmatched aura will be seen and felt' through the gallery, signaling the administration’s satisfaction with the change.
- Adds that in July the National Museum of American History similarly removed Trump impeachment references from its 'American Presidency: A Glorious Burden' exhibit.
10:05 PM
Reference to Trump's impeachments is removed from the display of his Smithsonian photo portrait
New information:
- AP confirms that as of Sunday, Trump is the only president in the National Portrait Gallery’s 'American Presidents' exhibit without any extended wall text beside his display; only the new photo and artist credit remain.
- The article reproduces the prior full Trump label, including the sentences noting he was 'impeached twice' on charges of abuse of power and incitement of insurrection, acquitted both times, and then lost in 2020 before a 2024 comeback.
- The Smithsonian tells AP it is beginning a 'planned update' of the America’s Presidents gallery and experimenting with bare 'tombstone' labels that list only general information like artist’s name, framing the change as part of that process.
- The piece ties the change to Trump’s August order directing Smithsonian officials to review all exhibits before the 250th anniversary to 'remove divisive or partisan narratives,' though the museum and White House both refuse to say if they requested this specific edit.
- White House spokesman Davis Ingle publicly praises the new photograph, saying Trump’s 'unmatched aura' will be felt throughout the gallery, but pointedly dodges questions on whether the White House asked for the label to be pulled.