A close political ally of Donald Trump, Roger Stone, has publicly called for the president to remove all staff members of the Smithsonian Institution following a controversy involving how the museum system described Richard Nixon’s impeachment history.

The dispute centers on an allegation that a Smithsonian exhibit or related material incorrectly stated that Nixon was impeached during the Watergate era.

Stone, a longtime Trump confidant and political operative known for his loyalty to Nixon, posted on social media that Trump should “fire everyone at the Smithsonian” over what he characterized as a false historical claim.He further demanded that the individuals responsible for the alleged error be publicly identified.

His comments were accompanied by imagery and references to the Smithsonian’s National Postal Museum and a headline suggesting the institution had misrepresented Nixon’s impeachment history.Historically, Richard Nixon was never impeached.

Although impeachment proceedings advanced in the House Judiciary Committee during the Watergate scandal, Nixon resigned from the presidency in August 1974 before the full House could vote on articles of impeachment.

The distinction between an impeachment inquiry and a completed impeachment is a key point of historical record, and misstatements about it have been the subject of political criticism.The Smithsonian Institution, a federally funded network of museums and research centers, has not publicly responded to Stone’s remarks.

The controversy reflects broader tensions between political figures and cultural or educational institutions that are sometimes accused of presenting politically biased or inaccurate historical interpretations.

Stone, who has long styled himself as a defender of Nixon’s legacy and was previously pardoned by Trump after convictions related to the Russia investigation, framed his demand as part of a broader push for accountability within federally funded institutions.His statement has drawn attention for its sweeping call for personnel removals based on a disputed interpretation of historical content.