Smithsonian says it’s committed to being free from ‘partisan influence’ after Trump tries to remove gallery director

The Smithsonian Institution on Monday emphasized its “nonpartisan stature” and said “all personnel decisions” are made by its secretary more than a week after President Donald Trump said he would remove the director of the National Portrait Gallery.

The institution said in a statement on Monday that “all personnel decisions are made by and subject to the direction of the Secretary, with oversight by the Board.” It comes amid tension in recent months between several art institutions and the president, who has tried to reshape leadership and put in place his own personnel choices.

Trump claimed in late May that he was removing Kim Sajet as director of the National Portrait Gallery. Sajet, who has led the Smithsonian-affiliated institution since 2013, is the first woman to serve in that role.