Overview

• President Trump announced Sajet’s immediate termination on Truth Social, calling her a “highly partisan person” whose DEI advocacy was “totally inappropriate” for the role.
• Kim Sajet has led the National Portrait Gallery since 2013, overseeing a collection of about 26,000 works that draws roughly 2 million visitors each year.
• The gallery’s display includes a 2017 photograph of Trump with a caption noting his two impeachments, 2020 loss, and 2024 comeback, while his formal portrait will remain in storage until 2029.
• Trump said a replacement director will be named shortly, marking the first leadership change at the gallery under his administration.
• Observers warn the move raises questions about political influence over cultural institutions and their approach to diversity initiatives.