Ready or not, America’s premier performing arts venue is getting a Trump makeover. The former president tweeted Friday that he is going to declare himself chairman, tossing out the current leadership faster than a reality show elimination round.
What’s actually happening here
The Kennedy Center isn’t just any theater — it’s a living memorial to JFK that houses the National Symphony Orchestra and Washington National Opera. The venue runs on a unique combo of government cash (for the building) and private money (for the shows). For 65 years, presidents have kept their distance from its artistic choices.
Until now.
Why is Trump doing this?
It’s part of a bigger shake-up in federal arts funding. Team Trump is already eyeing changes to the National Endowment for the Arts, and the Kennedy Center — caught between government dollars and artistic independence — makes for a perfect target.
The president’s main beef? The Center’s programming choices, especially drag performances.
Trump’s new vision includes:
- Firing current chairman David Rubenstein and other board members
- Targeting drag performances for removal
- Reshaping cultural exchange programs
Here’s the catch: The Center’s rules say board chairs are elected by members, not appointed by presidents. But that hasn’t stopped the Trump train.
Signs of what’s to come
The writing was already on the wall. On January 24, Republican Reps. Christopher Smith (NJ) and John Moolenaar (MI) fired off a letter to Kennedy Center leadership. Their target? A five-day performance by the National Ballet of China that they claim promotes Communist propaganda.
For perspective: This is the same venue that hosted Russia’s Bolshoi Ballet at the height of the Cold War. Cultural diplomacy has always been part of the Center’s mission.
Why this matters
Cultural institutions across the country are watching this like it’s the season finale of Succession. If Trump can remake the Kennedy Center, other government-connected arts venues could be next.
“This is about who gets to exist in public spaces and whose stories get to be told on America’s stage,” says Blaq Dinamyte, president of Qommittee, a national network of drag artists and allies. “Banning an entire art form is censorship, plain and simple. Americans don’t have to agree on everything, but we should be able to speak our minds and perform our art without bans, retaliation, or intimidation.”
For now, the shows go on.
- From Beethoven to Prison Beethoven: 7 Classical Musicians Who Got Arrested - March 3, 2025
- Musicians vs. WestJet: How Not to Handle a Trombone - February 24, 2025
- That “Perfect Pitch” Superpower? Turns Out Anyone Can Learn It - February 18, 2025
