President Donald Trump has announced a major shakeup at the Kennedy Center, removing multiple members of its Board of Trustees, including its chairman, and naming himself as the new leader. The move comes as Trump seeks to reclaim the institution from what he calls “woke insanity,” pointing to past programming decisions that promoted leftist ideology.
Trump made the announcement on Truth Social, declaring, “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!”
Among those reportedly being dismissed are Democratic operatives and Biden administration figures, including former White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre, Biden adviser Mike Donilon, and Democratic National Committee finance chair Chris Korge. Chairman David Rubenstein, who has held his position for over a decade, could also be affected, though it remains unclear if Trump has the legal authority to remove him.
Trump’s tensions with the Kennedy Center date back to his first term, when he refused to attend its annual honors ceremony and declined to host honorees at the White House. Now, rather than ignore the institution, he is stepping in to lead it himself.
He has been particularly vocal about the Kennedy Center’s decision to host drag performances that he says were marketed toward children. “Just last year, the Kennedy Center featured Drag Shows specifically targeting our youth — THIS WILL STOP,” he wrote.
Trump has also pledged to restore traditional values to the entertainment industry, appointing actors Jon Voight, Mel Gibson, and Sylvester Stallone as Special Ambassadors to Hollywood. Newsmax reported that Trump’s leadership shakeup is part of his broader plan to restore conservative values in American culture.
“The Kennedy Center is an American Jewel,” he added. “For the Kennedy Center, THE BEST IS YET TO COME!”
