President Donald Trump made waves on his social media platform Truth Social by announcing the termination of Kim Sajet from her role as director of the National Portrait Gallery (NPG) in Washington, DC. However, questions arise regarding Trump’s authority to fire Sajet, as the Smithsonian Institution, which oversees the museum, operates as an independent federally backed agency not under direct governmental control.
In his post on May 30, Trump criticized Sajet as a “highly partisan person and a strong supporter of DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion),” deeming her unfit for her position. He also mentioned that her replacement would be named soon.
This move follows an executive order issued by Trump two months ago, accusing the Smithsonian Institution of promoting “divisive, race-centered” views. Vice President JD Vance was tasked with removing what the president deemed as “improper ideology” from the museums associated with the institution. However, personnel decisions at the Smithsonian are typically made by Secretary Lonnie G. Bunch III, appointed in 2019 by the Board of Regents, with Vance serving as an ex-officio member of the board.
Sajet, the first woman to lead the NPG, assumed the director role in 2013 during the Obama administration. She brought a wealth of experience from her previous positions, including president and CEO of the Historical Society of Pennsylvania and senior vice president at the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts Museum.
During her tenure, Sajet focused on diversifying the museum’s collections and exhibitions to reflect the multicultural landscape of the United States. She emphasized experimentation and breaking down hierarchies to address the absence of women and Black American artists in the museum’s collections.
Numerous exhibitions curated by Sajet aimed to fill these gaps, such as “Unseen. Our History in a New Light: Ken Gonzales-Day & Titus Kaphar,” “Black Out: Silhouettes Then and Now,” and “Votes for Women: A Portrait of Persistence.” She also introduced the “Identify” performance series featuring artists like Jeffrey Gibson and MarÃa Magdalena Campos-Pons to acknowledge those historically missing from the museum’s collections.
Trump’s decision to oust Sajet aligns with his administration’s broader efforts to curtail arts and culture funding and diversity initiatives in federally supported organizations. Earlier this year, the National Gallery of Art ended its DEI programs following an executive order from the president. Additionally, numerous arts organizations lost grants due to funding cuts from agencies like the National Endowment for the Arts, the National Endowment for the Humanities, and the Institute of Museum and Library Services under Trump’s administration.
The National Portrait Gallery and the Smithsonian Institution declined to comment on Trump’s announcement, leaving the future of the NPG’s leadership uncertain amidst political tensions surrounding cultural institutions.
