President Donald Trump has announced the dismissal of Kim Sajet, the longstanding director of the Smithsonian’s National Portrait Gallery, marking the end of her 12-year tenure as the first female director of the gallery.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump stated, “Upon the request and recommendation of many people, I am hereby terminating the employment of Kim Sajet as Director of the National Portrait Gallery. She is a highly partisan person, and a strong supporter of DEI, which is totally inappropriate for her position. Her replacement will be named shortly. Thank you for your attention to this matter!”
Following this decision, Vice President JD Vance was tasked with removing what was deemed as improper ideology from Smithsonian museums and education centers by the president. This move aimed to eliminate all divisive narratives, including those related to the history of systemic racism in America, as per a March 27 executive order.
Reshaping Washington’s Art Institutions
Trump’s directive emphasized the removal of all “race-centered ideologies,” which the administration criticized as attempts to “rewrite history” and marginalize certain groups. This initiative extended to the American Women’s History Museum, where any recognition of achievements by trans individuals was discouraged.
Before her role at the National Portrait Gallery, Kim Sajet held prominent positions at the Historical Society of Pennsylvania, the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts, and the Philadelphia Museum of Art.
Sajet, appointed as the gallery’s director in 2013, is the latest in a series of personnel changes by the Trump administration to influence the cultural landscape of Washington. In February, Trump overhauled the board of trustees at the Kennedy Center and assumed the position of its chair, criticizing the organization for being too “woke.”
Subsequently, Richard Grenell, a long-time supporter of Trump, was appointed as the interim executive director of the Kennedy Center. The board also saw the addition of conservative figures, including personalities from Fox News, signaling a significant shift in the institution’s direction.
