Trump fires National Portrait Gallery director Kim Sajet over DEI support
President Donald Trump made headlines yet again on Friday when he announced the termination of Kim Sajet, the director of the National Portrait Gallery. In a post on his social media platform, Truth Social, Trump cited Sajet’s strong support for diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) as the reason for her dismissal.
According to the president, Sajet’s partisan leanings and financial contributions to Democratic campaigns made her unfit for her position. Trump stated, “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!”
A White House official revealed that Sajet had donated nearly $4,000 to Democratic candidates, including Joe Biden, Hillary Clinton, and Kamala Harris. The official also pointed out a photo of Trump curated by Sajet at the gallery, which included a caption highlighting his impeachment and the Capitol riot on January 6, 2021.
Sajet, who was the first woman to serve as the director of the National Portrait Gallery, has an extensive background in the arts and museum administration. Born in Nigeria and raised in Australia, she has held leadership positions at various cultural institutions before taking on her role at the gallery.
The termination of Sajet is part of a larger trend within the Trump administration to dismantle DEI programs in the federal government. Shortly after taking office, Trump signed an executive order to eliminate all DEI initiatives, leading to the closure of DEI offices across agencies and departments.
This move follows the recent firings of Shira Perlmutter, former head of the U.S. Copyright Office, and Carla Hayden, the Librarian of Congress. Both women were notified of their termination via email, as part of the administration’s efforts to remove officials perceived as opposing Trump’s agenda.
As the fallout from Sajet’s dismissal continues to unfold, the art world and cultural institutions are left to reckon with the implications of political interference in their leadership. The search for her replacement at the National Portrait Gallery is underway, as the debate over the role of DEI in the arts and beyond rages on.
