President Trump picks ‘Apprentice’ alum to lead America 250 art initiative

WASHINGTON— “You’re fired!” Almost twenty years after hearing his voice. Erin Scavino on NBC’s “The Apprentice” says President Donald Trump chose her to lead one of the federal government’s least-known offices because she helped tell America’s story to celebrate the nation’s 250th anniversary.

Scavino, director of the State Department’s Arts in Embassies program, told Fox News Digital in an exclusive interview at the American Museum of Art that he never imagined he would move from reality TV to overseeing one of the Trump administration’s signature America 250 cultural initiatives.

He said he sees his appointment as part of Trump’s broader effort to elevate American culture as well as American history ahead of the nation’s 250th anniversary.

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“I was hired by President Trump on day one because he wanted to make the performing arts great again, just like we saw at the Kennedy Center, and he also placed me at Art in Embassies to make the visual arts great again,” Scavino said.

Although little known to most Americans, the Art in Embassies office has been in existence since 1964, placing American artworks at approximately 190 diplomatic properties around the world as a form of cultural diplomacy.

Scavino said the county’s 250th anniversary presents an opportunity to introduce the program to a broader audience.

Opening July 30 at the Museum of American Art, “Patriotism Passport: 250 Years of Diplomacy” will bring together more than 30 contemporary American artists whose work explores patriotism, diplomacy, military service, immigration and national identity in what organizers describe as a celebration of the ideals that have shaped the United States since its founding.

The exhibition, presented in partnership with the Department of State’s Office of Art in Embassies and the American Arts Conservancy, will be available free of charge to the public until October 18.

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Erin Scavino, Art Director at Embassies, unboxes Romero Britto’s artwork ahead of the opening of the State Department’s “Passport to Patriotism: 250 Years of Diplomacy” exhibition. (Courtesy of Art in Embassies)

The exhibition features dozens of contemporary works that explore patriotism through photography, painting, sculpture and fashion, with each gallery approaching the American story from a different perspective.

Featured works include acclaimed artist Barbara Ernst Prey’s “Gallantly Streaming,” a sweeping interpretation of the American flag that underpins the exhibition’s exploration of national identity.

Internationally renowned pop artist Romero Britto reimagines the Statue of Liberty with a bold palette unique to the exhibition, layering vibrant colors on the Stars and Stripes to celebrate what Scavino describes as the enduring promise of the American dream.

The exhibition will feature a powerful photography series by Korina Marie Moore, who captures moments of military service through a deeply personal lens. Rather than focusing solely on combat, Moore’s photographs highlight the men and women who served, from sailors gathered around a U.S. Navy ship to soldiers standing guard as the Statue of Liberty rises across New York Harbor to the majesty of Arlington National Cemetery.

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A sketch of Betsy Ross’s American flag-inspired America250 couture gown by designer Kate Wasserbach Moore for the State Department’s “Passport to Patriotism: 250 Years of Diplomacy.” (Courtesy of Art in Embassies)

Visitors will also encounter Betsy’s America 250 haute couture dress, inspired by Ross’s flag and designed specifically for the country’s sesquicentennial celebrations.

For Scavino, the exhibition represents the final chapter of a career that has unexpectedly stretched from “The Apprentice” to the Trump administration. Looking back on that journey, he said one thing hasn’t changed.

“The common thread in all of this is President Trump,” Scavino said. “So I always thank him so much for these great opportunities.”

Scavino says this opportunity opened his eyes to the people behind the offices.

President Donald Trump speaks at the wedding reception of Dan and Erin Scavino at Mar-a-Lago on February 1, 2026 in Palm Beach, Florida. Erin Scavino, Fox News Digital, said Trump made remarks at the couple’s wedding and called later to say he enjoyed the celebration. (Al Drago/Getty Images)

“Every time you learn about someone’s job, you actually understand a whole new universe,” he said. “That’s what makes the State Department truly special.”

“People often think [the State Department is] it’s really serious, and yeah, of course there’s a lot of diplomacy and a lot of serious stuff going on,” Scavino said. “But there’s a lot of interesting components, like Art in Embassies.”

“This is not something that was created for me,” he added. “Art in Embassies has been around since 1964, under President Kennedy… Every time you learn about someone’s job, you actually understand a whole new universe.”

Scavino said one of his goals was to create an exhibit that welcomes visitors who would never consider themselves “art people.”

Korina Marie Moore’s photograph, “Facing Freedom,” shows two U.S. soldiers looking toward the Statue of Liberty. The work is included in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ “Patriotism Passport: 250 Years of Diplomacy” exhibition. (Courtesy of Art in Embassies)

“Art has become a kind of gatekeeping situation or something that is only for the rich and the elite,” he said. “I wanted to say, ‘Hey, no. We want kids. We want grandparents. We want mom. We want family. We want dad. We want people from all over the world to come to this museum because there’s something for everyone.'”

Each artwork contains QR codes that allow visitors to learn directly from the artists about their work and creative process; Scavino said this effort makes the exhibit more accessible.

“You don’t have to turn your nose up in the air saying, ‘Oh, that’s Monet’ or ‘That’s Degas,'” he said. “You’ll see a flag. You’ll see a statue. You’ll hear Americans tell their stories.”

Scavino pointed to Romero Britto’s colorful Statue of Liberty piece “Liberty for All” as an example of the American dream reflected in the exhibition.

Romero Britto’s “Freedom for All” is featured in the State Department’s “Passport to Patriotism: 250 Years of Diplomacy” exhibit celebrating America’s 250th anniversary. (Courtesy of Art in Embassies)

“When I think about her hearts or the Statue of Liberty, it reminds me of the American dream,” he said. “He is very patriotic and loves this country.”

“There are so many stories that are often overlooked,” Scavino said. “We show pictures of the missing. We show people who lost their lives for this nation. We show those who celebrate serving our country… I think we should honor those who served.”

One of the most unexpected pieces of the exhibition is not a painting or sculpture; A couture dress inspired by the American flag by Betsy Ross.

Scavino said she came up with the idea while looking for a wedding dress before her wedding to Trump administration official Dan Scavino at Mar-a-Lago in February when she discovered designer Kate Wasserbach Moore, whose appreciation of American history led to an unlikely collaboration.

State Department Art in Embassies Director Erin Elmore arrives at the wedding of White House deputy chief of staff Dan Scavino at Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach, Florida, on February 1, 2026. (Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images)

“I called her out of the blue and said, ‘Can you create a dress that one of the wives of our Founding Fathers would wear and make her patriotic,'” Scavino recalled.

The finished design, with fluid red-and-white accents inspired by Betsy Ross’s flag, was created for the exhibition rather than the aisle, adding fashion to a collection that otherwise encompassed photography, painting and sculpture.

“To me, it’s patriotic, red, white and blue, and it’s also fashionable; how much better can it get than that for a girl?” Scavino said.

Although Art in Embassies often works abroad, Scavino said one of his goals since taking over the office has been to create a major public exhibition in Washington.

“I started with a dream because Art in Embassies is usually abroad,” he said. “I wanted to do something, start a footprint in the United States.”

This idea quickly gained momentum.

“The American Museum of Art said yes,” Scavino recalled. “The second surprise was that unfortunately I didn’t have enough room for everyone. Many people generously wanted to participate.”

Kyler Steele’s photograph “Silence,” depicting rows of headstones at Arlington National Cemetery, is included in the State Department’s “Passport to Patriotism: 250 Years of Diplomacy” exhibit celebrating America’s 250th anniversary. (Courtesy of Art in Embassies)

According to Scavino, the exhibition ultimately consists of inspiring conversations rather than individual works.

“What I love about art is that it is completely different from politics,” he said. “You can get your foot in the door by talking about art… and maybe we can come together instead of tearing down.”

This is especially important, he said, because for many people abroad, the American embassy may be their first and sometimes only connection to the United States.

“Sometimes in these small countries that are so foreign to us, the only point of contact they have with America is our embassy and our ambassador,” Scavino said. “So this is a lot more important than I thought.”

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Scavino hopes visitors leave with a deeper appreciation not only for the artwork, but also for the stories it tells about the nation it represents.

“You can only celebrate 250 years once,” he said. “So let art be a way to celebrate.”