Former U.S. President Donald Trump announced on Friday that he had dismissed Kim Sajet, the director of the National Portrait Gallery in Washington, D.C., citing her support for diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives. Trump labeled her unfit for the position but did not specify any particular actions or remarks that prompted her removal, which he announced via a post on Truth Social.

“Upon the request and recommendation of many people, I am hereby terminating the employment of Kim Sajet,” Trump wrote. Sajet, the first woman to head the prestigious gallery, had held the role since 2013. The institution, under the Smithsonian umbrella, features portraits of prominent Americans, including every U.S. president, and houses over 26,000 works.

It remains unclear whether Trump had the legal authority to remove Sajet, as the Smithsonian Institution operates independently of the federal government, although it receives most of its funding from Congress.

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Sajet, a Nigerian-born art historian, has been vocal about the gallery’s commitment to addressing issues of race and gender. In a 2015 interview with the Washington Post, she highlighted the historical underrepresentation of women and African Americans in portraiture and art.

Trump’s move is part of a broader campaign against DEI initiatives. He has recently dismissed Kennedy Center board members and installed himself as chairman, drawing criticism from advocacy groups who argue these actions undermine decades of progress toward equity for marginalized communities. Meanwhile, Trump’s team contends that DEI efforts are discriminatory and obstruct merit-based systems.