Friday, President Trump posted on social networks that he had dismissed the director of the National Portrait Gallery of Washington, the appellant “a very partisan person and a fervent supporter of Dei, which is completely inappropriate for his post”.
It is not clear if the president has legal grounds to dismiss the director, Kim SAJET, because the National Portrait Gallery is part of the Smithsonian Institution, which is independent of the federal government despite the reception of almost two thirds of his Congress budget.
The statutes of the museum have no provision for layoffs, and some legal experts believe that the president would first need approval of the Smithsonian board of directors because he does not directly control the organization. However, this year, he called the vice-president JD Vance, who is a member of the Smithsonian’s Board, Work with Congress to revise the institution.
An official of the Smithsonian said that the organization had been taken by the president’s announcement, but refused to comment more. The National Portrait Gallery did not respond to a request for comments.
Since his return to duties in January, Mr. Trump has reshaped the artistic scene of the capital, settle as president John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.
After having quickly signed an executive decree prohibiting the programs of diversity, equity and inclusion in institutions financed by the federal government, organizations like the Smithsonian Closed their diversity offices. The National Gallery of Art changed his mission statement By replacing “diversity, equity, access and inclusion” by “welcoming and accessible”.
