President Donald Trump is taking control of the Kennedy Center, removing several board members and appointing himself as chairman. He has called out the institution for embracing progressive ideology and has vowed to put an end to its recent programming choices.
Trump made the announcement in a Truth Social post, saying, “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. We will soon announce a new Board, with an amazing Chairman, DONALD J. TRUMP!”
Reports indicate that the dismissed trustees include individuals with ties to the Biden administration, such as Karine Jean-Pierre, Mike Donilon, and Chris Korge. Chairman David Rubenstein has held his role for over a decade, though questions remain about whether Trump has the ability to remove him.
Trump has long had a strained relationship with the Kennedy Center, skipping its events during his first term. Now, he is taking direct action to change its leadership and direction.
One of Trump’s key complaints has been the Kennedy Center’s promotion of drag performances, which he says were targeted at children. “Just last year, the Kennedy Center featured Drag Shows specifically targeting our youth — THIS WILL STOP,” he wrote.
Trump has also made it clear that his efforts to restore traditional values go beyond the Kennedy Center. Newsmax reported that before taking office, he announced that Jon Voight, Mel Gibson, and Sylvester Stallone would play key roles in reshaping Hollywood.
“The Kennedy Center is an American Jewel,” he stated. “For the Kennedy Center, THE BEST IS YET TO COME!”
