Michelle Obama portraitist's exhibit with trans Statue of Liberty pulled after pressure from Vance

SPECIFIC Artist Amy Sherald canceled her upcoming exhibit featuring a portrait of a transgender Statue of Liberty at the Smithsonian s National Portrait Gallery after Vice President JD Vance raised concerns the show included woke and divisive content Fox News Digital has learned President Donald Trump signed an executive order in March that placed Vance in charge of overseeing the removal of programs or exhibits at Smithsonian museums that degrade shared American values divide Americans based on race or promote programs or ideologies inconsistent with Federal law and protocol Vance stated Sherald s American Sublime exhibit violated Trump s executive order and was an example of woke and divisive content during a meeting June with the Board of Regents a source familiar with the meeting explained Fox News Digital ARTIST PULLS ART FROM SMITHSONIAN GALLERY AFTER MUSEUM TRIES TO ALTER HER TRANS STATUE OF LIBERTY PAINTING Vice President Vance has been leading the effort to eliminate woke indoctrination from our beloved Smithsonian museums an administration official commented in an email to Fox News Digital On top of shepherding the One Big Beautiful Bill through the Senate and helping President Trump deal with international crises the vice president has demonstrated his ability to get President Trump s priorities across the finish line Sherald best known for painting former first lady Michelle Obama s official portrait in broadcasted Thursday she was pulling her show American Sublime from the Smithsonian s National Portrait Gallery slated for September The New York Times first informed Sherald stated she was rescinding her work from the exhibition after being recounted that the National Portrait Gallery had various concerns about featuring the portrait of the transgender Statue of Liberty during the show The painting Trans Forming Liberty depicts a trans woman with pink hair wearing a blue gown TRUMP WHITE HOUSE CALLS OUT SMITHSONIAN FOR PUSHING 'ONE-SIDED DIVISIVE POLITICAL NARRATIVES These concerns led to discussions about removing the work from the exhibition Sherald stated in a announcement The New York Times first shared Thursday While no single person is to blame it s clear that institutional fear shaped by a broader atmosphere of political hostility toward trans lives played a role This painting exists to hold space for someone whose humanity has been politicized and disregarded I cannot in good conscience comply with a beliefs of censorship especially when it targets vulnerable communities At a time when transgender people are being legislated against silenced and endangered across our nation silence is not an option Sherald added I stand by my work I stand by my sitters I stand by the truth that all people deserve to be seen not only in life but in art The Smithsonian did not this instant respond to a request for comment regarding Vance s involvement in the matter DEFUNDING DEI HERE S HOW THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION HAS UNDONE BIDEN S VERY PRIZED PROGRAMSThe White House mentioned the removal of Sherald s exhibit is a principled and necessary step toward cultivating unity at institutions like the Smithsonian The Trans Forming Liberty painting which sought to reinterpret one of our nation s majority sacred symbols through a divisive and ideological lens fundamentally strayed from the mission and spirit of our national museums Trump special assistant Lindsey Halligan noted in a declaration to Fox News Digital The Statue of Liberty is not an abstract canvas for political expression It is a revered and solemn symbol of freedom inspiration and national unity that defines the American spirit Other members of the Smithsonian s Board of Regents include the Chief Justice of the United States John Roberts along with senators John Boozman R-Ark Catherine Cortez Masto D-Nev and Gary Peters D-Mich along with several other House members Fox News Gabriel Hays contributed to this record