Donald Trump fires National Portrait Gallery director for being ‘strong supporter' of DEI
President Donald Trump fired the director of the National Portrait Gallery, Kim Sajet, for being a 'strong supporter' of diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI).
Trump announced the termination in a post on Truth Social on Friday afternoon.
'Upon the request and recommendation of many people, I am hereby terminating the employment of Kim Sajet as Director of the National Portrait Gallery,' the president wrote. '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 told Fox News Digital that Sajet had donated $3,982 to Democrats, including presidential campaigns for former President Joe Biden and Hillary Clinton. Sajet also reportedly donated to other Democrats, including former Vice President Kamala Harris.
The White House also pointed to the gallery's photo of Trump, which was curated by Sajet. The caption of the photo reads, 'Impeached twice, on charges of abuse of power and incitement of insurrection after supporters attacked the US Capitol on January 6, 2021, he was acquitted by the Senate in both trials. After losing to Joe Biden in 2020, Trump mounted a historic comeback in the 2024 election. He is the only president aside from Grover Cleveland (1837-1908) to have won a nonconsecutive second term.'
3 A White House official said that Sajet had donated $3,982 to Democrats.
Getty Images for Smithsonian's National Portrait Gallery
The White House official also said it was ironic that Sajet said, 'We try very much not to editorialise. I don't want by reading the label to get a sense of what the curator's opinion is about that person. I want someone reading the label to understand that it's based on historical fact.'
The National Portrait Gallery did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital's request for comment on the matter.
According to the National Portrait Gallery website, Sajet was the first woman to serve as the director of the National Portrait Gallery, and she spent time in the role looking for ways to put her experience and creativity at the center of learning and civic awareness.
Prior to taking the position, Sajet was the president and CEO of the Historical Society of Pennsylvania, and held other positions at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts and at the Philadelphia Museum of Art.
3 President Donald Trump, joined by Tesla CEO Elon Musk, speaks to reporters in the Oval Office of the White House on May 30, 2025 in Washington, DC.
Getty Images
Her biography notes that she was born in Nigeria, was raised in Australia and is a citizen of the Netherlands. She came to the U.S. with her family in 1997.
Hours after taking the Oath of Office on Inauguration Day on Jan. 20, Trump signed an executive order to eliminate all DEI programs from the federal government.
A day later, the president directed the Office of Personnel Management to notify heads of agencies and departments to close all DEI offices and place those government workers in those offices on paid leave.
3 Kim Sajet, Rhea L. Combs, Lonnie G. Bunch III, Oprah Winfrey and artist Shawn Michael Warren pose in front of the portrait during the unveiling of Oprah Winfrey's portrait on December 13, 2023 in Washington, DC.
Getty Images for Smithsonian's National Portrait Gallery
Earlier this month, Trump fired Shira Perlmutter, who was in charge of the U.S. Copyright Office, which came just days after terminating the Librarian of Congress, Carla Hayden. The termination was part of the administration's ongoing purge of government officials who are perceived to be opposed to Trump and his agenda.
Both women were notified of their termination by email, The Associated Press previously reported.
Hayden tapped Perlmutter to lead the Copyright Office in October 2020.
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