Kim Sajet, the former director of the Smithsonian-run National Portrait Gallery in Washington, D.C., resigned after President Donald Trump claimed he fired her via social media. Despite Trump's demand, Sajet continued reporting to work until formally quitting. Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr., chancellor of the Smithsonian Institution, intervened to block internal board suggestions to follow Trump's orders, leading the board to issue a resolution affirming its sole authority to fire museum directors. The controversy followed Trump's executive order accusing the Smithsonian of promoting a "divisive, race-centered ideology" and his post calling Sajet a "highly partisan person" and "strong supporter of DEI." Separately, artist Amy Sherald withdrew her mid-career survey from the National Portrait Gallery after being asked to remove a portrait of a trans woman posing as the Statue of Liberty.
This matter is significant because it highlights a direct clash between presidential authority and the governance independence of the Smithsonian Institution, a federally chartered trust. The resolution asserting the board's exclusive firing power sets a precedent for protecting museum directors from political interference. The incident also underscores ongoing cultural battles over diversity, equity, and inclusion in federal cultural institutions, with Trump's executive order and Sajet's departure reflecting broader tensions around race-centered programming. Amy Sherald's withdrawal further signals how political pressure can affect exhibition content and artist-institution relationships.