JD Vance pressures Smithsonian over portrait director while defending U.S. support for Israel

U.S. Vice President JD Vance has come under scrutiny for two distinct actions. In a meeting of the Smithsonian Institution’s Board of Regents, Vance is reported to have warned the members, “You cannot refuse him,” urging compliance with President Donald Trump’s demand to remove National Portrait Gallery director Kim Sajet. The director resigned weeks later after the standoff.

Separately, Vance has faced criticism for his foreign‑policy stance, with commentators noting his repeated support for Israel’s military actions in Gaza, the West Bank and Lebanon and his praise for policies that have “sent the Iranian economy into a free‑fall.” These positions have been described as aligning the U.S. administration closely with Israeli objectives.