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3mo ago

Trump Ousts National Portrait Gallery Director Over DEI Support

The move broadens his effort to purge DEI programs from federal cultural bodies; legal experts question his power to dismiss the gallery's director at the Smithsonian.

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U.S. President Donald Trump gestures, as he departs for Pennsylvania, on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., May 30, 2025. REUTERS/Kent Nishimura
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Overview

  • Trump terminated Kim Sajet on May 30 via Truth Social, citing her partisanship and support for DEI.
  • Sajet, the first woman to lead the gallery since 2013, had prioritized diversifying the institution's collection and programming.
  • Her dismissal follows January and March executive orders that eliminated federal DEI offices and barred 'divisive narratives' at the Smithsonian.
  • The Smithsonian's hybrid public-private structure grants personnel authority to its secretary, prompting legal experts to dispute the president's power to fire its museum directors.
  • No successor has been announced as the administration advances broader efforts to reshape Washington's arts institutions, including the Kennedy Center.