Trump fires National Portrait Gallery Director over DEI support and political donations
Kim Sajet dismissed for backing diversity efforts and donating to Democrats, including Biden and Clinton.
President Donald Trump has fired Kim Sajet, director of the National Portrait Gallery, citing her support for diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs. The dismissal, announced Friday on Truth Social, follows Trump’s executive order eliminating all DEI initiatives within the federal government.
In his statement, Trump called Sajet “a highly partisan person” and said her backing of DEI was “totally inappropriate” for her position. The White House also pointed to political donations made by Sajet to Democratic figures including Joe Biden, Hillary Clinton, and Kamala Harris, totaling nearly $4,000.
Political donations and Portrait controversy
A White House official told Fox News Digital that Sajet’s partisan activities went beyond DEI support, noting that she approved a Trump portrait caption referencing his impeachments and the January 6 Capitol riot. The caption highlighted Trump’s unique historical status as the only U.S. president aside from Grover Cleveland to serve nonconsecutive terms.
The official also criticized Sajet for claiming that the museum avoids editorializing, despite curating labels with controversial political framing. The National Portrait Gallery has not issued a formal response to the dismissal.
Part of Wider federal DEI rollback
Sajet's termination is part of a broader Trump administration effort to dismantle DEI programs and remove federal officials seen as opposing the president's agenda. On January 20, hours after taking the oath of office, Trump signed an executive order to end all federal DEI programs and instructed agencies to place DEI staff on paid leave.
Earlier this month, Trump also dismissed Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden and U.S. Copyright Office head Shira Perlmutter. Both were notified by email, according to the Associated Press. Sajet, who had led the museum since 2013, was the first woman to direct the National Portrait Gallery and previously held positions at institutions in Pennsylvania.
