The allegation that the Air Force Art Gallery at the Pentagon removed the portrait of Daniel “Chappie” James Jr., the U.S. military’s first Black four-star general, is still being investigated.
The report originates from a June 9, 2026, article in The Atlantic, which stated that the portrait’s removal was linked to the Trump administration’s move to roll back diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) policies.
The Atlantic report drew on conversations with about two dozen Black individuals serving or formerly serving in the U.S. military, including both enlisted personnel and civilians. It referenced the removal of James’ portrait as one of several examples of actions attributed to the U.S. Department of Defense, which under Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth in the Trump administration was said to be working to “delegitimize the accomplishments — and the very presence — of Black people in the military.”
Snopes said it will continue updating the report as more information becomes available. It added that it has contacted the U.S. Department of Defense to verify whether the portrait was removed or relocated, and also reached out to retired Col. Gerald Curry—who reportedly informed the reporter—as well as the article’s author, Clint Smith, and is awaiting their responses.
In June 2026, a rumor circulated claiming that a portrait of Daniel “Chappie” James Jr., the first Black four-star general in the U.S. Air Force, had been removed from display at the Pentagon, which serves as the headquarters of the U.S. Department of Defense.
The claim surfaced on X, where an account shared an alleged image of James’ portrait alongside the caption:
“They took down Chappie James’s portrait. 101 combat missions in Korea. 78 more in Vietnam. First Black four-star general in U.S. military history”.
In summary, Snopes was unable to independently verify that the portrait had been removed from display. As a result, the claim has been left unrated.
The Atlantic based its report on interviews with about two dozen Black individuals across the U.S. military, including serving personnel, civilians, and retirees. One of those sources was retired Col. Gerald Curry, who reportedly spoke on the record about the alleged removal of James’ portrait. Efforts were made to contact him to verify the account. Curry previously led the Air Force Review Boards Agency, which states its mission as ensuring “due process, equity, fairness and impartial treatment.”
Another individual referenced in the story was Pentagon acting press secretary Joel Valdez, who informed The Atlantic that the portrait had been moved, though no details were given about where it was relocated. He was also contacted for further clarification on the exact location and whether the new display position carries the same level of prominence as the original.
