National Portrait Gallery director to step down following Trump's 'firing'
Source: Politico
06/13/2025 01:50 PM EDT
Kim Sajet is stepping down from her position as director of the Smithsonian’s National Portrait Gallery, even as the network of museums disputed President Donald Trump’s announcement he was terminating her last month.
“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,” Smithsonian Secretary Lonnie G. Bunch III wrote in an email sent to employees, which was shared with POLITICO.
Kevin Gover, undersecretary for museums and culture, has replaced Sajet as acting director of the museum. The New York Times first reported Sajet’s departure.
Trump announced his attempt to fire Sajet in a Truth Social post on May 30, referring to the director as “highly partisan person, and a strong supporter of DEI, which is totally inappropriate for her position.” But whether the president had the authority to remove Sajet was unclear — and the Smithsonian, an independent organization created by Congress, disputed that he did.
Read more: https://www.politico.com/news/2025/06/13/national-portrait-gallery-director-trump-firing-00405360
REFERENCES
https://www.democraticunderground.com/10143468766
https://www.democraticunderground.com/10143475399
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