Trump's assault on the Smithsonian: The goal is to reframe the entire culture of the US'

"On 30 May last year, Kim Sajet was working in her office in the grandly porticoed National Portrait Gallery in Washington DC. The gallery is one of the most important branches of the Smithsonian Institution, the complex of national museums that, for almost 200 years, has told the story of the nation. The director's suite, large enough to host a small party, has a grandeur befitting the museum's role as the keeper of portraits of the United States' most significant historical figures."

"Sajet was working beneath the gaze of artworks from the collection, including a striking 1952 painting of Mary Mills, a military-uniformed, African American nurse, and a bronze head of jazz and blues singer Ethel Waters. It seemed like an ordinary Friday. Until, that is, an anxious colleague came in to tell Sajet that the president of the United States had personally denounced her on social media. Upon the request and recommendation of many people I am herby [sic] terminating the employment of Kim Sajet as Director of the National Portrait Gallery, Donald Trump had posted on Truth Social. According to the post, Sajet was a highly partisan person and a strong supporter of diversity and inclusion programmes, which by an executive order on his inauguration day, 20 January, he had eradicated from federal agencies. Her replacement will be named shortly, continued the message. Thank you for your attention to this matter!"

"Sajet is a Dutch-born, Australian-raised art historian in her early 60s. She has platinum blond hair, and wears trouser suits in bright colours and statement spectacles. Her manner is warm and open, but she also projects an air of professional control. When we met in autumn 2025, she seemed so determined not to say anything controversial that I struggled to believe that anyone could consider her radical. She recalled that, after absorbing Trump's post, she shot a look at her shaken colleague, and asked: Are you OK? It honestly was another day in the office, Sajet told me."

On 30 May last year, Kim Sajet was working in her office at the National Portrait Gallery in Washington DC. The gallery is a major Smithsonian branch housing portraits of the nation’s most significant historical figures. Sajet was interrupted when a colleague informed her that the president had publicly denounced her on social media. The president's post announced her termination, accused her of partisanship, and cited her support for diversity and inclusion programmes that he said he had eradicated by executive order on 20 January. Sajet is a Dutch-born, Australian-raised art historian in her early 60s who maintained a calm, professional demeanour and responded to the news by asking her shaken colleague, “Are you OK?”

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