President Donald Trump announced Friday that he is dismissing multiple members of the Kennedy Center’s board of trustees and appointing himself as its new chairman.
Trump also signaled plans to influence the programming at the esteemed cultural institution, specifically vowing to put an end to performances featuring drag artists.
This move aligns with the broader efforts of his second-term agenda, which has seen him aggressively reshape federal policies, including attempts to dissolve government agencies, halt spending, and eliminate diversity, equity, and inclusion programs.
“At my direction, we are going to make the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C., GREAT AGAIN. I have decided to immediately terminate multiple individuals from the Board of Trustees, including the Chairman, who do not share our Vision for a Golden Age in Arts and Culture,” Trump posted on his social media platform.
“We will soon announce a new Board, with an amazing Chairman, DONALD J. TRUMP!”
The Kennedy Center responded late Friday with a statement on its website, acknowledging Trump’s remarks but clarifying that it had not received formal communication from the White House regarding any board restructuring.
“We have received no official communications from the White House regarding changes to our board of trustees,” the statement read. “We are aware that some members of our board have received termination notices from the administration.”
The statement further referenced the Kennedy Center’s governing structure, established by Congress in 1958, which grants the board authority to appoint its own chairperson. While it is within a president’s power to replace board members, the statement noted that such an action would be unprecedented.
Unlike his predecessors, including former President Joe Biden, Trump did not attend the Kennedy Center Honors during his first term. The prestigious annual ceremony, held at the Washington D.C. performing arts venue since 1971, has traditionally been a high-profile event celebrating contributions to the arts.
Following Trump’s social media post, the Kennedy Center’s website experienced technical issues, with visitors encountering a message indicating “high traffic” and being placed in a virtual waiting room alongside hundreds of others attempting to access the site.
Trump also suggested upcoming changes to the center’s event schedule, specifically targeting drag performances.
“The Kennedy Center featured Drag Shows specifically targeting our youth — THIS WILL STOP,” he wrote.
According to event listings on the Kennedy Center’s website, the institution previously hosted a “Drag Salute to Divas” preshow in July and a “Drag Brunch” in November.
While Trump did not specify which trustees would be removed beyond the current chairman, David Rubenstein, his decision could significantly reshape the board, which consists of prominent figures from both political parties and major donors.
Rubenstein, a philanthropist and the principal owner of the Baltimore Orioles, has held the chairman position since 2010. Initially appointed to the Kennedy Center board by President George W. Bush, he was later reappointed by Presidents Barack Obama and Joe Biden.
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