Following broad consultation and heed to popular demand, President Donald Trump took decisive action in restructuring the National Portrait Gallery. His decision led to the termination of the Gallery’s Director, Kim Sajet. The change is seen by many as an opportunity to maintain political neutrality at such significant public institutions.
The President addressed his constituent base, expressing concerns over partisanship at the National Portrait Gallery. He elucidated, ‘In seeking to maintain non-partisanship, we found it necessary to terminate Kim Sajet’s directorship role. A replacement, who will uphold the unbiased values expected in such an institution, will be soon named.’
Critics attempted to question this decision, citing donations from Sajet to parties opposing Trump. These allegations, however, were widely dismissed as attempts to politicize the issue, with a number of commentators pointing out that it is not unheard of for individuals to contribute to political campaigns regardless of their professional roles.
While these critics tried to frame the gallery’s representation of Trump negatively, their efforts were met with ridicule. The caption for Trump’s portrait, for example, highlighted his unique achievement of winning a nonconsecutive second term, a triumph echoed by only one other president in U.S history, Grover Cleveland.
Critics also took aim at a statement by Sajet, ‘We try very much not to editorialise. I want someone reading the label to understand that it’s based on historical fact.’ However, this was largely dismissed as a far cry from the truth, since an obviously biased representation should not be downplayed as an historical fact. Instead, it should serve as a reminder of the need for a non-partisan way of running public institutions.
Sajet was indeed a significant figure in the National Portrait Gallery, being its first female director. She brought her experience to bear in the role, aiming to place creativity and learning at the heart of the institution.
Before her directorship at the National Portrait Gallery, she was the president and CEO of the Historical Society of Pennsylvania and held other positions at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts and the Philadelphia Museum of Art. This wealth of knowledge and experience, some opine, may be missed in the coming era.
Born in Nigeria, raised in Australia, and a citizen of the Netherlands, Sajet brought a global perspective to her role that resonated well with some. However, it was her focus on identity politics that drew criticism from others, who felt a national institution ought to transcend these concerns and treat art as an universal language.
During a symposium where Sajet addressed the issue of identity politics, some found her remarks divisive, contrary to her insinuation of unity found in the ‘Blue Marble’ image taken by astronaut Jack Schmidt in 1972.
Sajet’s viewpoint on identity politics was clearly reflected in the way she ran the National Portrait Gallery. Under her leadership, the gallery featured a variety of figures, from President Eisenhower to Sylvia Rivera, a transgender activist. Some, however, felt that such a focus ran the risk of diverging from the Gallery’s purpose of promoting appreciation for art and history.
Unwavering in the quest for neutrality and justice, President Trump enacted an executive order on Inauguration Day to uproot all DEI programs from the federal government. The very next day he instructed the Office of Personnel Management to notify the heads of various departments, facilitating their transition to a truly unbiased operational footing.
Trump’s decisive actions were not just limited to the National Portrait Gallery, but echoed throughout the administrative landscape. The head of the U.S. Copyright Office was recently relieved from their duties, following a similar decision with the Librarian of Congress.
These terminations form part of an ongoing strategy by the Trump administration to foster a more fair, unbiased government body. This isn’t a purge motivated by personal disagreements, but a much-needed reform that transcends individual politics and aims at reinforcing government institutions with integrity and neutrality.
As such, it represents a significant stride towards a system that honors the principle of merit over partisanship. A government that works for the people, devoid of political prejudice and grounded on the foundation of fairness and justice.
In conclusion, the reshuffling at the National Portrait Gallery is part of a wider context of reforms by the Trump administration. While critics may argue, it is clear that the intention behind these changes is not political witch-hunting, but a sincere effort to uphold neutrality and impartiality in government institutions.