Photo: Alamy
President Donald Trump hosted the newly restructured Kennedy Center board at the White House on Monday evening, promising to bring change to the nation’s premier cultural institution.
This gathering followed his February announcement, in which he appointed himself as board chair and replaced existing members with close allies. The reconstituted board includes White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles, Attorney General Pam Bondi, Second Lady Usha Vance and singer Lee Greenwood, known for “God Bless the USA.”
Trump expressed his intent to revitalize the Kennedy Center, stating, “We’re gonna turn it around.”
Reflecting on his decision to lead the board, he remarked, “When I said, ‘I’ll do this,’ I hadn’t been there,” adding humorously, “That’s the last time I’ll take a job without looking at it.”
Criticizing past programming, Trump argued that the center had become overly politicized, citing performances he described as a “Marxist anti-police performance” and “Lesbian-only Shakespeare.” He questioned, “Who thinks of these ideas, really?”
The president has proposed significant cuts to federal arts funding, including eliminating the National Endowment for the Arts and the National Endowment for the Humanities.
The Kennedy Center’s upcoming season features productions like “Chicago,” “Moulin Rouge,” and “Back to the Future … ,” along with a children’s adaptation of the cartoon “Bluey.” Notably, the center canceled a week of events celebrating LGBTQ+ rights that were part of the World Pride festival in Washington.
Addressing the facility’s condition, Trump criticized the allocation of funds over the past decade, stating, “I don’t know where they …. They certainly didn’t spend it on wallpaper.”
Trump has also expressed dissatisfaction with the center’s recent expansion, “The Reach,” which includes studios and rehearsal spaces. He indicated a preference for an open-air performance space along the Potomac River.
These changes have prompted reactions from the artistic community. The musical “Hamilton” canceled scheduled performances, and artists like Issa Rae and Rhiannon Giddens withdrew from planned appearances. Despite the controversy, Trump remains focused on steering the Kennedy Center toward what he envisions as a renewed celebration of American arts and culture as part of a larger effort to celebrate patriotism ahead of the nation’s 250th anniversary in 2026.
