Trump Fires National Portrait Gallery Director Over DEI Support

Trump Fires National Portrait Gallery Director Over Dei Support

Well, that escalated quickly.

President Donald Trump has just fired Kim Sajet, the director of the Smithsonian’s National Portrait Gallery—and his reasoning? Her strong backing of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) efforts. Trump didn’t mince words, either. He called her a “highly partisan person” and said her role should be “totally non-political,” according to Fox News.

The shakeup was announced on Trump’s Truth Social account, where he declared that Sajet had been dismissed and a new director would soon take her place. He didn’t name names, but said her replacement would “represent the greatness of our country.”

Sajet, who’s been leading the gallery since 2013, was the first woman to hold the post. Born in Nigeria, raised in Australia, and a Dutch citizen, she brought a fresh perspective to one of Washington’s most prestigious museums. Under her leadership, the gallery expanded its collection to include more diverse voices, added Spanish to its messaging, and even hired a choreographer-in-residence. Yeah, seriously—art met movement.

But not everyone was a fan of her inclusive approach. Trump reportedly took issue with her DEI stance, calling it “not appropriate” for a position like hers. This move comes on the heels of his broader campaign to reshape America’s cultural institutions. In March, he signed an executive order titled “Restoring Truth and Sanity to American History,” aimed at pulling federal support from what he calls “divisive narratives.”

So, does the president even have the power to fire a museum director at the Smithsonian? That’s where things get murky. Technically, the Smithsonian operates independently, and its leadership falls under the Secretary of the institution—not the White House. So while Trump has declared Sajet out, the legal wheels might spin differently behind the scenes.

As of now, the Smithsonian hasn’t released an official statement on her firing. And Sajet? She hasn’t spoken publicly about it yet either.

This one’s far from over. But one thing’s clear—Trump is making moves to put his stamp on America’s arts and culture landscape. Whether you see it as overdue reform or political interference probably depends on which side of the canvas you’re standing.