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Trump fires the director of the Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery [1]

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Date: 2025-05-30

Trump is once again trying to control the fine arts and creativity, because he understands neither.

First it was taking over the Kennedy Center, then executive ordering the Smithsonian to get rid of displays that had anything to do with diversity, equity and inclusion. Trump once again is trying to rewrite history.

Now he has fired the director of the Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery. Whether he can do this legally is a question. The Smithsonian is a public-private institution which is not under the control of the executive branch. This could be fought if Kim Sajet decides to contest the firing.

Nigerian born, Australian-raised Dutch citizen, Kim Sajet has been on the job since 2013. Notice how many people who served during Trump's first administration are now being fired for made up reasons.

"Upon the recommendation of many people..."

Who, Donald? Who? Probably Stephen Miller got into a snit. Maybe it's because his new portrait has been done, but will remain in storage until 2029, as is customary until a president leaves office. A 2017 photo currently is in its place, with a caption that reads:

"Impeached twice, on charges of abuse of power and incitement of insurrection after supporters attacked the US Capitol on January 6th, 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 besides Grover Cleveland (1837 - 1908) to have won a non-consecutive second term."

Trump is obviously totally peeved about the first half of the caption. It's factual, but he doesn't care. He doesn't want anything to screw up his image.

"She is a highly partisan person, and a strong supporter of DEI, which is totally inappropriate for her position."

Who could possibly be more partisan than Donald Trump? And of course the curse of believing in civil rights, which gets turned into discrimination by calling it DEI. The "partisan" has to do with that first part of the caption on his photo.

She has worked to include more women and minorities representation in the Portrait Gallery. That, and her being an intelligent woman means she is a threat to Trump.

"Her replacement will be named shortly. Thank you for your attention to this matter!"

Once again, we were not paying any attention to it at all. We didn't think we needed to. It's just you talking in third person again to yourself. Still another sign of cognitive decline.

I hope Sajet fights back. She has both cause and precedent. It's always time to stand up to a bully.

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