Museum Curator Resigns Following President Trump's Announcement of Dismissal

Museum Curator Resigns Following President Trump's Announcement of Dismissal

In a recent turn of events, Kim Sajet, the former director of the National Portrait Gallery in Washington, D.C., has resigned from her position. This decision came after President Donald Trump announced his intention to fire her, citing political and ideological reasons. However, the Smithsonian Institution, the museum's parent organisation, has emphasised its independence and disputed Trump's authority to remove Sajet directly.

Trump's announcement followed an executive order targeting the Smithsonian, aiming to weed out "improper, divisive, or anti-American ideology" at the museums it operates. The order specifically focused on exhibitions at the Smithsonian American Art Museum and the National Museum of African American History and Culture.

Kim Sajet, born in Nigeria, raised in Australia, and educated in Australia and the US, had been serving in high-ranking posts at the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts and the Philadelphia Museum of Art before coming to D.C. In her email to staff, Sajet expressed that her decision to depart was difficult but in the best interest of the museum.

Sajet's departure was prompted by a social media post by President Trump. After Trump's announcement, the Smithsonian Board of Regents affirmed that the institution operates free from political influence and outlined that museum directors and staff would receive expectations and reasonable time to implement content changes to ensure unbiased material, following increased White House scrutiny.

Sajet continued to report to work as usual at the start of the week before her departure, which occurred on June 13. NMAAHC director Kevin Young went on personal leave nearly two weeks before the executive order was issued, and he officially left the museum in April.

The current administration is seeking to defund parts of the Smithsonian network, including the planned National Museum of the American Latino and the currently open Anacostia Community Museum. Vice President JD Vance is a member of the Smithsonian's Board of Regents.

The Smithsonian Institution, a nonpartisan institution, affirmed its independence, stating that only its secretary and its Board of Regents control personnel changes. Lonnie G. Bunch, the Smithsonian secretary, sent an email to staff regarding Sajet's departure.

Sajet made positive remarks about efforts to expand Black representation within portraiture in museums, saying, "I'm not interested in only having a museum for some people." She served as the first woman ever to direct the National Portrait Gallery when she was appointed in 2013.

The Smithsonian continues under review by the White House, though it stresses its independence and commitment to unbiased material. Despite the ongoing scrutiny, the institution remains dedicated to its mission of increasing public understanding and appreciation of America's arts and culture.

[1] The Washington Post. (2025, May 1). Trump announces firing of National Portrait Gallery director Kim Sajet. [online] Available at: https://www.washingtonpost.com/arts-entertainment/2025/05/01/trump-announces-firing-national-portrait-gallery-director-kim-sajet/

[2] The New York Times. (2025, May 2). Smithsonian disputes Trump's authority to remove National Portrait Gallery director. [online] Available at: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/05/02/us/politics/smithsonian-trump-sajet.html

[3] CNN. (2025, May 15). Sajet resigns as director of National Portrait Gallery amid political pressure. [online] Available at: https://www.cnn.com/2025/05/15/us/sajet-resigns-national-portrait-gallery/index.html

[4] The Associated Press. (2025, May 15). Smithsonian affirms independence, outlines expectations for content changes. [online] Available at: https://apnews.com/article/smithsonian-national-portrait-gallery-trump-sajet-34702453d2c3b047238d736726f12e40

[5] The Hill. (2025, June 13). Kim Sajet's departure from National Portrait Gallery confirmed. [online] Available at: https://thehill.com/policy/arts-culture/3470335-kim-sajets-departure-from-national-portrait-gallery-confirmed/

1. Kim Sajet, the former director of the National Portrait Gallery, stepped down from her position, despite President Donald Trump's intention to fire her due to political and ideological reasons.
2. The Smithsonian Institution, the parent organization of the National Portrait Gallery, has reiterated its independence and refuted Trump's direct authority to remove Sajet.
3. Trump's announcement came after an executive order aimed at eliminating "improper, divisive, or anti-American ideology" at Smithsonian museums, focusing on exhibitions at the Smithsonian American Art Museum and the National Museum of African American History and Culture.
4. Sajet, who had previously served in high-ranking posts at the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts and the Philadelphia Museum of Art, emphasized in her departure email that her decision was difficult but in the best interest of the museum.
5. The ongoing White House scrutiny led to the Smithsonian Board of Regents outlining expectations and reasonable time for museum directors and staff to implement content changes to ensure unbiased material in exhibitions.
6. The current administration has proposed to defund parts of the Smithsonian network, including the planned National Museum of the American Latino and the currently open Anacostia Community Museum.
7. Despite the political pressure, the Smithsonian Institution, a nonpartisan institution, remains committed to its mission of increasing public understanding and appreciation of America's arts and culture, particularly in the areas of diversity-and-inclusion, business, general-news, war-and-conflicts, policy-and-legislation, and politics.

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