President Donald Trump has launched a major reform effort at the Kennedy Center, vowing to strip away leftist influence and bring back traditional American performances. Following his appointment as chairman of the board, Trump has begun reshaping the institution’s leadership and programming to reflect the values of the American people.
During a recent visit to the Kennedy Center, Trump criticized its current state, calling it a poorly managed institution that has wasted taxpayer money. He noted that despite a costly expansion, much of the facility appeared neglected. “It has tremendous potential,” he said, pledging to work with Congress to restore it.
🚨 JUST IN: Trump is at the Kennedy Center for the board meeting and a tour. He is totally overhauling it.
He says they wanted to charge Lee Greenwood $30,000 just to sing there. Trump also says he is going to get with Speaker Johnson to fix its architecture.
"We're here to… pic.twitter.com/n3jGPcIHSV
— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) March 17, 2025
One of his first major moves was replacing board members with new appointees, including Fox News personalities Laura Ingraham and Maria Bartiromo, as well as country music legend Lee Greenwood. He also selected Richard Grenell to lead the center as interim executive director, ensuring that its direction aligns with Trump’s commitment to eliminating political bias from the arts.
The response from Hollywood and left-wing performers has been immediate. Hamilton creator Lin-Manuel Miranda pulled his show from the schedule, while actress Issa Rae withdrew from a planned performance. Drag performers, whose shows were canceled, have protested outside the Kennedy Center, accusing the administration of censorship.
Trump is de nieuwe baas van het Kennedy Center in Washington DC, het nationale centrum voor uitvoerende kunst.
Natuurlijk wil hij het gaan verbouwen zodat het meer lijkt op zijn Mar-a-Lago. MT en bestuur bestaat nu uit MAGA.
Ondertussen lopen artiesten, donoren en publiek weg. https://t.co/YLAl6yBSG1— Walter van der Cruijsen (@wltrrr) March 18, 2025
Grenell has already started shifting the Kennedy Center’s programming. He announced a large Christmas celebration and promised a greater focus on performances that reflect traditional American culture. “We will not allow the Kennedy Center to be an intolerant place,” he said.
Trump also pointed out major financial inefficiencies at the center, including the excessive costs associated with basic changes. He mentioned that simply moving a piano for a performance would have cost $30,000, blaming the problem on overregulation and bloated labor costs.
Trump has made it clear that under his leadership, the Kennedy Center will no longer be a platform for leftist activism but instead a place where the arts can thrive without political interference.
