Trump Fires Portrait Gallery Director Over DEI Support, Other Agencies May Follow Suit

Trump Ousts National Portrait Gallery Director, Signals Broader Cultural Shift

President Donald Trump announced today he has terminated Kim Sajet as director of the Smithsonian's National Portrait Gallery, citing her "highly partisan" nature and support for diversity initiatives as disqualifying factors for the position.

"Upon the request and recommendation of many people, I am hereby terminating the employment of Kim Sajet as Director of the National Portrait Gallery," Trump declared in a post on Truth Social at 1:30 p.m. EDT. "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."

The dismissal marks an unprecedented level of presidential intervention in the Smithsonian Institution, which has historically operated with considerable independence from the executive branch. It also signals a potentially seismic shift in how the federal government approaches cultural institutions and diversity policies.

A Storied Tenure Cut Short

Sajet, who became the first woman to lead the gallery since its 1962 founding when appointed in 2013, had navigated complex political waters for over a decade before her abrupt dismissal. The Nigerian-born, Australian-raised museum director holds Dutch citizenship and impressive academic credentials, including a PhD in Liberal Studies, an MA in Art History, and an MBA.

Under her leadership, the National Portrait Gallery—home to the only complete collection of presidential portraits outside the White House—expanded its representation of women and minorities while maintaining what she repeatedly described as a non-partisan approach to American portraiture.

"We house the visual biography of America," Sajet said during a 2023 fundraising event. "Our collection tells the story of who we are through the faces of those who shaped our nation—all of our nation."

The Independence Question

Cultural institution leaders who spoke on condition of anonymity expressed alarm at the precedent set by a direct presidential firing of a Smithsonian director.

"This isn't just about one museum director," said a veteran arts administrator who has worked with multiple presidential administrations. "It's about whether our cultural institutions can maintain scholarly independence when political winds shift."

The Smithsonian, while receiving approximately 60% of its funding from federal appropriations, has traditionally operated with professional autonomy. Its secretary is appointed by a Board of Regents rather than directly by the president, creating a buffer between politics and curatorial decisions.

"The Portrait Gallery, like all our museums, presents American history through multiple lenses and perspectives," said a current Smithsonian curator who requested anonymity to speak freely. "That's not partisanship—that's scholarship."

DEI as Political Flashpoint

Trump's specific mention of Sajet's support for diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives as "inappropriate" for her position elevates what has become an increasingly contentious cultural and political battleground.

Since his January 2025 inauguration, the Trump administration has moved aggressively to roll back DEI programs across federal agencies. In March, the White House issued an executive order restricting diversity training across government departments, and in April, the Department of Education announced reviews of university DEI offices that receive federal funding.

The firing suggests these efforts have now extended to cultural institutions, raising questions about potential impacts on exhibition planning, acquisition policies, and even how American history is presented in federally supported museums.

A History of Tension

While Sajet and Trump have had no public disputes, the National Portrait Gallery found itself navigating political waters during the commissioning of Trump's official presidential portrait following his first term.

In 2021, Sajet emphasized the gallery's non-partisan stance during those discussions, stating: "We are a non-partisan institution and understand that there are public opinions on both sides of the fence."

The gallery has not yet unveiled Trump's official portrait from his first term, a process that typically takes several years to complete. Sources familiar with museum operations indicate that discussions about the portrait have continued into Trump's second term, though details remain confidential.

Market and Institutional Reverberations

For the financial sector and institutional investors, the firing represents more than a personnel change—it signals potential volatility in regulatory and cultural policy that could affect markets in subtle but significant ways.

"When politically independent institutions suddenly aren't independent anymore, that introduces a new risk factor across sectors," noted a senior market analyst at a major investment firm. "It's not just museums—it's whether expertise-driven agencies can maintain consistent, predictable regulatory environments."

Corporate sponsors of cultural institutions—often major financial and consumer brands—may now face heightened scrutiny over their philanthropy in what has become an increasingly polarized landscape.

"The corporate calculus changes when cultural sponsorship becomes politically charged," explained a corporate philanthropy consultant. "Boards have to weigh reputational risks differently when institutions themselves become political battlegrounds."

What Comes Next

As Washington awaits Trump's announcement of Sajet's replacement, museum professionals are watching closely for signals about the administration's broader approach to cultural institutions.

"The choice of successor will tell us everything," said a former federal cultural agency head. "Will it be someone with museum credentials and scholarly background, or will political loyalty be the primary qualification? That answer will reverberate through every federally supported cultural institution in America."

For now, the Smithsonian has issued only a brief statement acknowledging the president's announcement and thanking Sajet for her service. The institution indicated that an interim director would be named while a search for a permanent replacement begins.

As the portrait gallery prepares for its leadership transition, the question remains whether this intervention represents an isolated incident or the beginning of a more comprehensive effort to reshape America's cultural institutions according to new political priorities.

"Museums aren't just about the past," said a prominent art historian. "They're about who gets to interpret that past for future generations. That's why this matters far beyond a single personnel decision."

A Turning Point in DEI Policies

Trump's explicit firing of a high-profile cultural leader for supporting DEI represents a dramatic shift from just months ago, when most federal agencies and major corporations actively championed diversity initiatives. The termination potentially signals the beginning of a broader purge, with experts suggesting both government departments and private companies may follow the president's lead.

"We could see a domino effect where organizations begin questioning or even terminating employees hired through DEI programs or those who have been vocal supporters," warned a labor policy expert. "When the presidential bully pulpit targets a specific policy this directly, it creates permission for others to take similar actions."

For institutions that have invested heavily in diversity programs over the past decade, this sudden reversal presents both operational and legal challenges as America's approach to workplace diversity undergoes what appears to be a profound transformation.