President Donald Trump swung the axe this week, firing Kim Sajet, the National Portrait Gallery’s director, for her vocal backing of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) policies, as Fox News reports. Her termination, announced with a flourish on Truth Social, sent shockwaves through the art world. It’s a bold move, signaling that allegiance to progressive ideals won’t fly in Trump’s administration.

Trump’s decision to oust Sajet stems from her support for DEI and her $3,982 in donations to Democrats, including Joe Biden and Kamala Harris. The White House also pointed to a gallery photo of Trump, curated under Sajet, with a caption highlighting his impeachments and 2020 election loss. Actions, it seems, have consequences.

Sajet, the first woman to lead the National Portrait Gallery, was born in Nigeria, raised in Australia, and is a Dutch citizen who arrived in the U.S. in 1997. Before her tenure, she held roles at the Historical Society of Pennsylvania and the Philadelphia Museum of Art. Her global background didn’t shield her from Trump’s purge of perceived opponents.

Firing announced on Truth Social

Trump took to Truth Social on Friday to declare Sajet’s termination, calling her a “highly partisan person” and a DEI supporter unfit for her role.

“Her replacement will be named shortly,” he added, leaving no room for ambiguity. The post was vintage Trump: direct, unapologetic, and divisive.

Sajet’s ousting aligns with Trump’s broader campaign to dismantle DEI initiatives across the federal government.

On Jan. 20, the president signed an executive order eliminating all DEI programs in the federal government. The next day, he directed agencies to shutter DEI offices and place their staff on paid leave -- a swift gutting of progressive priorities.

The White House spotlighted Sajet’s political donations, which included funds for Hillary Clinton’s presidential campaign. Her financial support for Democrats painted a target on her back. In Trump’s world, loyalty is non-negotiable, and Sajet’s choices didn’t align.

Gallery captions spur controversy

A National Portrait Gallery photo of Trump, curated under Sajet, included a caption noting his two impeachments, Senate acquittals, and 2020 election loss to Joe Biden. It also mentioned his 2024 comeback, making him the second president after Grover Cleveland to win nonconsecutive terms. The caption’s tone, some argue, leaned more editorial than factual.

Sajet once claimed, “We try very much not to editorialise.” Yet the Trump photo’s caption suggests otherwise, fueling accusations of bias. When a curator’s work reads like a political scorecard, neutrality becomes a tough sell.

At a Nov. 4 symposium, Sajet described her focus as “identity politics,” a phrase that likely didn’t endear her to Trump’s team.

“America has never been able to separate a person’s appearance from their potential,” she said, lamenting discrimination and alienation. Her words, while heartfelt, clash with the administration’s anti-woke stance.

Broader reshuffling continues

Sajet’s firing follows Trump’s earlier dismissals of Shira Perlmutter, head of the U.S. Copyright Office, and Carla Hayden, Librarian of Congress. Both were notified by email, a cold but efficient method. Trump’s purge targets officials seen as obstacles to his agenda, and Sajet was no exception.

Perlmutter, appointed by Hayden in October 2020, and Hayden herself were swept up in Trump’s housecleaning this month. The rapid firings signal a no-nonsense approach to reshaping federal institutions. Those who don’t align with Trump’s vision are swiftly shown the door.

Sajet’s symposium remarks included a grim assessment: “Well, that utopian vision feels very far away today.” She spoke of an “uncivil, mistrustful, racially insensitive” era, words that resonate with progressives but grate on conservatives. Her rhetoric, however sincere, sealed her fate in Trump’s eyes.

Identity politics at core of dispute

Sajet doubled down on identity politics, defending gallery labels such as one calling President Dwight Eisenhower cautious on civil rights. She also championed a display of work by Sylvia Rivera, a transgender activist, and stood firm on keeping abortion advocate Margaret Sanger’s portrait in the collection. These choices, while bold, clashed with Trump’s push to erase such narratives.

“The National Portrait Gallery is all about identity politics,” Sajet declared, outlining her mission. That focus, while celebrated in some circles, made her a lightning rod for criticism. In Trump’s administration, such priorities are not just out of favor -- they’re outright targeted.

Trump’s firing of Sajet sends a clear message: DEI and progressive ideals won’t survive his second term. While Sajet’s supporters may mourn her exit, conservatives see it as a necessary step to restore neutrality.