President Donald Trump has set his sights on restoring the Kennedy Center, calling out years of mismanagement and leftist influence that have reshaped the institution. After touring the facility and presiding over a board meeting, Trump vowed to end its politically driven programming and return it to the American people.
Trump’s recent shake-up included firing board members and replacing them with figures who align with his vision. Among his appointees are Fox News hosts Laura Ingraham and Maria Bartiromo, country music star Lee Greenwood, and second lady Usha Vance. He also named Richard Grenell as interim executive director, putting him in charge of restructuring the center’s operations.
🚨 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
The changes have caused an uproar among left-wing entertainers. Lin-Manuel Miranda canceled a planned run of Hamilton, while Issa Rae pulled out of an upcoming performance. Drag performers have protested outside the venue after their events were scrapped, claiming censorship.
During his visit, Trump criticized how the Kennedy Center has been run, pointing out wasted taxpayer funds on unnecessary construction projects. He described the building’s condition as unacceptable despite a $250 million expansion just a few years ago. “The bottom line: It has tremendous potential,” Trump said, promising improvements.
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 announced plans to introduce more traditional programming, including a large Christmas celebration. He made it clear that the Kennedy Center will no longer cater to radical activists, stating, “We will not allow the Kennedy Center to be an intolerant place.”
Trump also revealed that excessive union costs were making even minor adjustments at the venue prohibitively expensive. He pointed out that it would have cost $30,000 to move a piano for Greenwood’s performance, blaming inefficiencies in the center’s operations.
Despite the backlash from leftist elites, Trump remains committed to reshaping the Kennedy Center into an institution that reflects the values of the American people rather than the political agenda of liberal activists.
