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Los Angeles Times
a day ago
- Politics
- Los Angeles Times
Trump expands crusade against ‘woke' from the Smithsonian to museums across the country
President Trump on Tuesday said he intends to expand his crusade against what he calls 'woke' ideology from the Smithsonian Institution to museums across the country. 'The Museums throughout Washington, but all over the Country are, essentially, the last remaining segment of 'WOKE,'' Trump wrote on Truth Social, adding that the Smithsonian is 'out of control,' and that everything featured in its exhibits discuss, 'how horrible our Country is, how bad Slavery was, and how unaccomplished the downtrodden have been — Nothing about Success, nothing about Brightness, nothing about the Future.' To prevent more of the same in other institutions, Trump said he has instructed his attorneys, 'to go through the Museums, and start the exact same process that has been done with Colleges and Universities where tremendous progress has been made.' Contacted for comment, a White House rep said, 'President Trump will explore all options and avenues to get the Woke out of the Smithsonian and hold them accountable. He will start with the Smithsonian and then go from there.' They did not respond to a request for clarification on how the administration intends to vet the content of exhibits at other museums, or whether or not the president intends to issue an executive order with details on a plan. Trump's concern about the Smithsonian first became public in late March when he issued an executive order titled 'Restoring Truth and Sanity to American History,' which directed Vice President JD Vance to remove 'improper ideology' from the Smithsonian's 21 museums and the National Zoo in Washington, D.C. Two months later, Trump exerted even greater control when he said he'd fired Kim Sajet, the longtime director of the Smithsonian's National Portrait Gallery, for being 'a highly partisan person, and a strong supporter of DEI.' It soon became apparent that it wasn't in Trump's power to do so and Sajet continued to work. In early June the Smithsonian rejected Trump's attempt to fire Sajet after a lengthy Board of Regents meeting. The Regents issued a statement stating that the organization's secretary, Lonnie G. Bunch, 'has the support of the Board of Regents in his authority and management of the Smithsonian.' It was implied that Bunch would be the one making personnel decisions, not Trump. Still, the statement opened the door to the idea that the Smithsonian might make changes that would appease Trump's criticism. 'To reinforce our nonpartisan stature, the Board of Regents has directed the Secretary to articulate specific expectations to museum directors and staff regarding content in Smithsonian museums, give directors reasonable time to make any needed changes to ensure unbiased content, and to report back to the Board on progress and any needed personnel changes based on success or lack thereof in making the needed changes,' the statement read. Sajet resigned a few days later, writing in a note to staff, 'From the very beginning, my guiding principle has been to put the museum first. Today, I believe that stepping aside is the best way to serve the institution I hold so deeply in my heart.' Other museums are ringing alarm bells about what it could mean for art and history at large. The Japanese American National Museum in L.A.'s Little Tokyo recently issued a statement condemning what it called the, 'Reshaping of Smithsonian Museums' to fit 'the administration's historical interpretation.' 'These latest attempts to sanitize and reshape history to fit a narrow ideological narrative amount to nothing less than the erasure of history,' said JANM's President and Chief Executive Ann Burroughs. 'We cannot reverse America's journey toward a more just and equitable future. Museums must be places of truth, not propaganda — spaces where the next generation can confront the complexity of our nation's injustices, mistakes, and darkest chapters; where empathy, social responsibility, and the courage to defend democracy are nurtured.' The American Alliance of Museums also recently issued a statement warning of 'growing threats of censorship against U.S. museums.' 'In recent months, museums have faced increasing external pressures to modify, remove, or limit exhibitions and programs,' the statement read. 'People trust museums because they rely on independent scholarship and research, uphold high professional standards, and embrace open inquiry. When any directive dictates what should or should not be displayed, it risks narrowing the public's window into evidence, ideas, and a full range of perspectives. 'This is not just a concern for select institutions,' the statement continued. 'These pressures can create a chilling effect across the entire museum sector.'
Yahoo
05-07-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Director of National Portrait Gallery resigns after Trump's effort to fire her
The director of the National Portrait Gallery, Kim Sajet, has resigned just two weeks after Donald Trump attempted to fire her and accused her of being 'highly partisan and a strong supporter of DEI'. 'We thank Kim for her service. Her decision to put the museum first is to be applauded and appreciated. I know this was not an easy decision. She put the needs of the Institution above her own, and for that we thank her,' Lonnie Bunch, the Smithsonian secretary, wrote in a Friday internal email that was obtained by multiple outlets. 'We are grateful to Kim for leading the National Portrait Gallery with passion and creativity for 12 years. Throughout her tenure, she has reimagined and reshaped the impact and storytelling of portraiture.' Related: The Dutchwoman guiding the gallery of America's most famous faces The announcement comes after the Smithsonian Institution earlier this week rebuffed Trump's attempt to fire Sajet, with the museum's governing board asserting its independence and turning away the president's claim of authority over the institution's staffing. Trump announced on 30 May that he had fired Sajet, calling her a 'highly partisan person, and a strong supporter of DEI, which is totally inappropriate for her position'. His attack focused, among other reasons, on her Democratic political donations and her rejection of a pro-Trump painting by artist Julian Raven. Sajet reportedly told Raven his artwork was 'too pro-Trump' and 'too political' for the gallery, the artist told the Washingtonian in 2019. In a statement on Monday, the Smithsonian's board of regents declared that 'all personnel decisions are made by and subject to the direction of the secretary, with oversight by the board'. The statement did not name Sajet or mention the Trump administration directly. Following Trump's announcement, Sajet continued reporting to work throughout early June, creating a direct confrontation between the White House and the Smithsonian Institution – the country's flagship cultural institution that has a 178-year-old governance structure built against political interference. Appointed in 2013, Sajet became the National Portrait Gallery's first female director. Kevin Gover, undersecretary for museums and culture, has replaced her as acting director of the museum. In a statement shared by the internal memo on Friday, Sajet said it had been 'the honor of a lifetime to lead the Smithsonian's National Portrait Gallery'. 'This was not an easy decision, but I believe it is the right one,' she wrote. 'From the very beginning, my guiding principle has been to put the museum first. Today, I believe that stepping aside is the best way to serve the institution I hold so deeply in my heart. 'The role of a museum director has never been about one individual – it is a shared mission, driven by the passion, creativity, and dedication of an extraordinary team.' A statement from a White House spokesperson, David Ingle, reads: 'On day one, President Trump made clear that there is no place for dangerous anti-American ideology in our government and institutions. 'In align with this objective, he ordered the termination of Kim Sajet. The Trump Administration is committed to restoring American greatness and celebrating our nation's proud history.'
Yahoo
14-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Smithsonian Director Quits After Trump Failed to Fire Her
The director of the Smithsonian Institute's National Portrait Gallery stepped down after the organization rebuffed President Donald Trump's attempts to fire her. Kim Sajet shared her departure in a statement emailed to staff by Smithsonian chief Lonnie Bunch, according to The New York Times. 'This was not an easy decision, but I believe it is the right one,' she said. 'From the very beginning, my guiding principle has been to put the museum first. Today, I believe that stepping aside is the best way to serve the institution I hold so deeply in my heart.' The president announced two weeks ago that he was firing Sajet, whom he called a 'partisan person and a strong supporter of [diversity, equity, and inclusion], which is totally inappropriate for her position.' However, Trump's directive was ignored—Sajet continued to carry out her job, which she has held since 2013, with the backing of the institution. Earlier this week, the Smithsonian released a thinly veiled rejoinder to Trump. It explained that the Smithsonian's director and board held control of personnel decisions. When news broke that Sajet had quit, the White House was quick to declare victory. 'On day one, President Trump made clear that there is no place for dangerous anti-American ideology in our government and institutions,' spokesperson Davis Ingle told the Daily Beast in a statement. 'In align [sic] with this objective, he ordered the termination of Kim Sajet.' 'The Trump Administration is committed to restoring American greatness and celebrating our nation's proud history,' he added. Among the list of reasons cited by the Trump administration in trying to fire Sajet were her remarks during a 2018 race and justice summit at the National Portrait Gallery. 'The 'portrait of America' has never been only about meritocracy but also social access, racial inequality, gender difference, religious preference, and political power,' she said. In late March, Trump issued an executive order telling the Smithsonian to stop presenting American history as 'inherently racist, sexist, oppressive, or otherwise irredeemably flawed.' While the Smithsonian has not outright bowed to Trump, the institution does appear to be taking his criticism seriously. In an email to staff this week, Bunch, the organization's leader, admitted he was considering making changes, according to the Times. 'While the vast majority of our content is rooted in meticulous research and thoughtful analysis of history and facts,' he wrote, 'we recognize that, on occasion, some of our work has not aligned with our institutional values of scholarship, even-handedness, and nonpartisanship. For that, we must all work to do better.' The Smithsonian—which encompasses a network of museums, libraries, research centers, and the National Zoo—was founded by Congress in 1846. It operates independently from the executive branch and is governed by a board of regents that includes the vice president and the Supreme Court's chief justice. It is not the only D.C. cultural institution that Trump has sought to remake since his return to office. Trump has also seized control of the Kennedy Center, naming a MAGA loyalist as the theater's director and vowing to wipe out its 'woke' programming. At an opening night performance of Les Misérables at the Kennedy Center, Trump was met with boos.
Yahoo
14-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Smithsonian Director Resigns After Trump Claimed He Fired Her
Two weeks after President Donald Trump claimed he'd fired her because she's a 'highly partisan person,' the Smithsonian's National Portrait Gallery director, Kim Sajet, announced she was stepping down. In a memo sent to staff Friday, first obtained by The New York Times, Sajet didn't address Trump's attacks but said she believed this was the right move for the museum. 'This was not an easy decision, but I believe it is the right one,' she said in a memo sent out by Smithsonian Secretary Lonnie Bunch. 'From the very beginning, my guiding principle has been to put the museum first. Today, I believe that stepping aside is the best way to serve the institution I hold so deeply in my heart.' Bunch praised Sajet, saying she 'put the needs of the Institution above her own, and for that we thank her.' In late May, Trump announced on social media that he was 'terminating' Sajet, who'd held the position for 12 years and was the first female director of the National Portrait Gallery. 'She is a highly partisan person, and a strong supporter of DEI, which is totally inappropriate for her position,' the president wrote, referring to diversity, equity and inclusion policies. Trump's authority to fire Sajet from the Smithsonian, which is not part of the executive branch, immediately came into question, and Sajet continued to show up to work through Friday. The House Administration Committee's top Democrat, Rep. Joseph Morelle (D-N.Y.), and the House Appropriations Committee's top Democrat, Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.), released a joint statement last week saying Trump had 'no authority' to fire anyone from the Smithsonian. 'The dismissal of Director Sajet is unacceptable and has the same legal weight as the President's prior attempts to undermine the Smithsonian's independence: absolutely none,' the lawmakers said. 'Should the White House require a copy of the Constitution, we would be more than happy to provide one.' The Smithsonian's Board of Regents backed up that position, saying Monday that all personnel decisions are directed by Bunch, who 'has the support of the Board of Regents in his authority and management of the Smithsonian.' The board includes several lawmakers, U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts, and Vice President JD Vance. The White House acknowledged Sajet's departure Friday, with spokesperson Davis Ingle saying in a statement: 'On day one, President Trump made clear that there is no place for dangerous anti-American ideology in our government and institutions. In align[ment] with this objective, he ordered the termination of Kim Sajet. The Trump Administration is committed to restoring American greatness and celebrating our nation's proud history.' In March, Trump issued an executive order banning federal spending on any Smithsonian exhibits that 'divide Americans based on race.' Sajet has not issued any public statements about the order. In a December interview with The Guardian, Sajet ― who was born to Dutch parents in Nigeria and raised in Australia ― spoke about her 'great love' for the U.S. and its cultural influence on the rest of the world, calling it a 'tremendous gift.' 'If anything, I don't think Americans realize how much impact they have across the globe,' she said, adding: 'Sometimes I think Americans look inward so much and they fail to see what an impact they have across the world.' Trump's Latest Executive Order Is 'Erasing History' In Smithsonian Museums, Governor Says Suit With A Story: Congressman Donates Clothes From Viral Jan. 6 Photo To Smithsonian Thousands Of 'No Kings' Protests Against Trump Expected Saturday
Yahoo
13-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
National Portrait Gallery director resigns after Trump tried firing her
National Portrait Gallery Director Kim Sajet is resigning from her post two weeks after President Trump tried to fire her and accused her of being 'highly partisan' and supportive of diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) efforts. 'We are grateful to Kim for leading the National Portrait Gallery with passion and creativity for 12 years. Throughout her tenure, she has reimagined and reshaped the impact and storytelling of portraiture,' Smithsonian Secretary Lonnie G. Bunch III said Friday morning in an internal memo, which was obtained by The Hill. Bunch said Sajet, an Australian native and the first woman to helm the Smithsonian's National Portrait Gallery, made 'lasting contributions to the Institution, including the expansion of the national collection with key acquisitions—such as the earliest known daguerreotype of First Lady Dolley Madison, dating back to 1846.' The internal memo included statements from Sajet, who is also a citizen of the Netherlands, expressing that it has been 'the honor of a lifetime' to head the gallery. 'This was not an easy decision, but I believe it is the right one. From the very beginning, my guiding principle has been to put the museum first. Today, I believe that stepping aside is the best way to serve the institution I hold so deeply in my heart,' Sajet said. 'The role of a museum director has never been about one individual—it is a shared mission, driven by the passion, creativity, and dedication of an extraordinary team.' Sajet's resignation came two weeks after Trump said he was terminating the National Portrait Gallery director, arguing she is a partisan actor and a 'strong supporter' of DEI initiatives, 'which is totally inappropriate for her position.' The White House has pointed to Sajet's political contributions to Democratic lawmakers and party groups. Sajet has dished out donations to former President Biden, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, EMILY's List — a PAC that works on electing female Democratic candidates — the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee and others, according to Federal Election Commission filings. On Monday, the Smithsonian said it holds authority over personnel decisions. 'The board is entrusted with the governance and independence of the Institution, and the board appoints a Secretary to manage the Institution,' it said in a statement. 'All personnel decisions are made by and subject to the direction of the Secretary, with oversight by the Board. Lonnie G. Bunch, the Secretary, has the support of the Board of Regents in his authority and management of the Smithsonian.' Bunch wrote in the memo that Kevin Gover, the under secretary for museums and culture, will work as the next acting director. 'On day one, President Trump made clear that there is no place for dangerous anti-American ideology in our government and institutions. In align with this objective, he ordered the termination of Kim Sajet,' White House spokesperson David Ingle told The Hill in an emailed statement Friday. 'The Trump Administration is committed to restoring American greatness and celebrating our nation's proud history,' Ingle added. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
