("John Roberts", the Chief Justice, intervened to halt the dismissal of the Director of the National Portrait Gallery)
The Smithsonian Institution found itself in the spotlight last week, as President Donald Trump attempted to dismiss Kim Sajet, the director of the Smithsonian-run National Portrait Gallery in Washington, D.C. However, the institution's ex officio chancellor, Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr., played a pivotal role in preventing Sajet's dismissal.
According to reports, Republican Representative Carlos Gimenez, a member of the Smithsonian board, reportedly demanded that the institution follow Trump's orders regarding Sajet's firing. However, Roberts led the board to publicly assert that only the board itself has the authority to hire and fire Smithsonian museum directors. This move effectively blocked Trump's dismissal of Sajet.
Roberts' response to Gimenez's demand is reported to have been, "We already have a motion on the floor." Roberts' firm stance was instrumental in putting a stop to internal suggestions among the board that the Smithsonian follow Trump's orders.
Trump accused Sajet of being a highly partisan person and a strong supporter of DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion). He claimed to have fired her via social media, but Sajet continued to report to work until she formally resigned from her post.
The resolution and scrutiny over Sajet's leadership followed pressure from President Trump. Last week, Amy Sherald pulled the National Portrait Gallery's planned iteration of her mid-career survey. Reports suggest that Sherald was asked to remove a portrait of a trans woman posing as the Statue of Liberty from the exhibition.
In an executive order earlier this year, Trump accused the Smithsonian of coming under the influence of a divisive, race-centered ideology. However, the Smithsonian's board issued a resolution asserting its exclusive right to fire the director of one of its museums. The resolution also promised to give directors reasonable time to ensure unbiased content and report back on progress and personnel changes.
Despite the controversy, the Smithsonian Institution continues to uphold its commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion, and to preserving and promoting American art and culture.
- The National Portrait Gallery, a museum under the Smithsonian Institution, recently faced a controversy over an exhibition, with the Smithsonian coming under political scrutiny due to claims of a divisive ideology.
- The exhibition, reportedly featuring a portrait of a trans woman portraying the Statue of Liberty, was asked to be removed, which led to artist Amy Sherald cancelling her mid-career survey at the gallery.
- The Smithsonian's board, in response to this, issued a resolution asserting its exclusive right to hire and fire museum directors and promising to ensure unbiased content and report back on progress and personnel changes.
- The museum directors, such as Kim Sajet, have been targeted by criticism due to their alleged support for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion policies, with President Trump accusing Sajet of being a highly partisan individual. Despite this, the Smithsonian continues to uphold its commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion.
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