At the end of March, President Trump signed an executive order accusing the Smithsonian Institution of promoting, quote,

narratives that portray American and Western values as inherently harmful and oppressive.

Since then, the leaders of the Smithsonian have been under the microscope.

Senior arts correspondent Jeffrey Brown has more for our series, Art and Action.

Exploring the intersection of art and democracy as part of our canvas coverage.

At the end of May, President Trump announced he was firing Kim Sayett,

director of the National Portrait Gallery, a Smithsonian Museum.

In a true social post, he accused her of being a highly partisan person and a strong supporter

of DEI.

For now, those say it remains in her job.

Yesterday, the Smithsonian's Board of Regents met and issued a statement declaring that

all personnel decisions are made by and subject to the direction of Secretary Bunch,

with oversight by the board. And that Bunch has the board support.

But it also directed him to take steps to, quote, ensure unbiased content at Smithsonian Museums.

And for more, I'm joined by Philip Kinnakot. He's Pulitzer Prize winning art and architecture

critic for the Washington Post. Thanks so much for joining us.

So first, a backing of Lonnie Bunch, an assertion that the Smithsonian has the right to fire and hire people.

That sounds to be like pushing back a bit against President Trump.

What do you make of it?

Yes, I think it's a diplomatic but firm assertion of the

prerogative of the Secretary Lonnie Bunch to make the decision that the president was trying

to make for him, which was to fire one of the top leaders of the Smithsonian. And so Kim say it's

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