The Smithsonian Institution has rejected claims that political interference influenced its decision to remove a display referencing the impeachments of U.S. President Donald Trump from the National Museum of American History.

In a statement released Saturday, the Smithsonian said the placard was taken down purely due to curatorial concerns related to its “appearance, location, timeline, and overall presentation.” The label, which referred to Trump’s two impeachments, was reportedly obstructing the view of items inside its display case and was deemed inconsistent with other sections of the exhibit.

“No administration or government official requested that content be removed,” the statement emphasized, responding to widespread speculation about political pressure.

The controversy erupted after a report by The Washington Post suggested the removal followed a broader “content review” tied to White House scrutiny of federally funded cultural institutions. Critics argue the decision aligns with recent efforts by the Trump administration to influence historical and artistic narratives.

The current exhibit now misleadingly states that “only three presidents have seriously faced removal,” omitting Trump’s impeachments in 2019 and 2021—the only president in U.S. history to be impeached twice. Both charges, one related to the Ukraine scandal and the other for inciting the January 6 Capitol riot, led to acquittals in the Senate.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer condemned the omission on Friday, saying, “You can run, but you cannot hide from the judgment of history. No matter what exhibits you try to distort, the American people will never forget that you were impeached—not once, but twice.”

The Smithsonian has since committed to revising the impeachment section of the exhibit. “We are working to ensure the presentation reflects all impeachment proceedings in our nation’s history,” the institution said.

This incident comes in the wake of a March executive order signed by President Trump targeting what he called “improper ideology” in federally supported institutions. The order directed agencies, including the Smithsonian, to remove exhibits seen as “dividing Americans” or “undermining national values.”

With oversight of 21 museums and the National Zoo, the Smithsonian now finds itself at the heart of a contentious national debate over historical accuracy, political influence, and the autonomy of cultural institutions.