Trump Says He Fired National Portrait Gallery Director – But Can He Really Do That?

So here we are again—another Trump headline that makes you do a double take.

On Friday, President Trump took to social media to say he had fired Kim Sajet, the longtime director of the National Portrait Gallery in Washington. His reason? He claims she’s “a highly partisan person” and “a strong supporter of DEI,” something he says is “totally inappropriate” for her role.

Hold up. Can he actually do that?

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Let’s dig into this mess, because it’s not as simple as a CEO firing an employee. This is the Smithsonian we’re talking about.

Wait—Isn’t the Smithsonian Independent?

Here’s where things get tricky. The National Portrait Gallery is part of the Smithsonian Institution, a name you probably recognize from those grand museums on the National Mall or maybe your favorite Night at the Museum movie. The Smithsonian is not technically a federal agency, though it does receive a healthy slice of its funding—about two-thirds—from Congress.

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That means while it relies on public money, it isn’t under the direct control of the president.

So, can Trump unilaterally fire the director of one of its museums? Probably not.

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According to several legal experts, the rules for firing someone like Kim Sajet aren’t spelled out so clearly. The Smithsonian operates under its own internal bylaws, and there’s no obvious process that gives a sitting president the power to remove a museum director.

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More importantly, the board of regents—a group that oversees the Smithsonian—would likely need to approve any major personnel changes. And Trump, despite being president, doesn’t control that board.

Yes, he does have an ally there: Vice President JD Vance. Trump has reportedly encouraged Vance to push for major changes to the Smithsonian, including shaking up leadership and policy. But it’s unclear if that’s enough to muscle out a long-standing museum director like Sajet.

DEI in the Crosshairs—Again

Let’s not pretend this came out of nowhere. This “firing” is part of a broader wave of Trump-led cultural rollback. Since his return to office in January, Trump has been on a mission to strip federal support from diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives. And cultural institutions are feeling the heat.

He already signed an executive order banning DEI programs in federally funded entities. The ripple effects? The Smithsonian closed its diversity offices. The National Gallery of Art scrubbed its mission statement, swapping “diversity, equity, access, and inclusion” for the more vague “welcoming and accessible.”

What we’re seeing is a pretty dramatic cultural shift—not just politically, but artistically too.

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And here’s another eyebrow-raiser: Trump named himself chairman of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.

Yes, that Kennedy Center. The same place where artists, musicians, and cultural icons are honored each year with much fanfare. It’s the country’s premier arts institution. And now Trump is at the helm.

This is all part of a bigger campaign by Trump to redefine American arts and culture on his terms. He’s not just trying to cancel what he doesn’t like—he’s actively rebuilding the system in his image. Removing a museum director over DEI views fits right into that narrative.

So What Now?

Honestly, nobody knows exactly what happens next. Smithsonian officials were reportedly blindsided by Trump’s post. They haven’t confirmed whether Sajet has actually been dismissed, and the National Portrait Gallery isn’t talking either.

For now, it’s a waiting game. Will the board of regents act? Will Trump’s move hold up legally? Or will this turn into another headline that flames out with no real result?