President Trump has been elected as the new chair of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, sparking significant changes in its leadership and programming. The White House is actively replacing the center's board with individuals aligned with the president's vision, prioritizing a move away from what he perceives as 'woke culture'.
The Kennedy Center 's board unanimously elected President Trump as its new chair on Wednesday afternoon. This move comes as the president reshapes the center's governing body and performances, moving away from what he perceives as ' woke culture ,' according to multiple sources speaking to CBS News. One board member, Jacqueline Mars, was present but did not vote, a source revealed. Following Mr.
Trump's announcement last week to remove the Kennedy Center's chairman and board of trustees, and install himself as chairman, the White House has started filling open board member positions. New board members include White House officials, family members of administration officials, donors, and their spouses, as listed on the Kennedy Center's website. These include: Second lady of the United States Usha Vance, White House chief of staff Susie Wiles, Wiles' mother, Cheri Summerall, White House deputy chief of staff for national security Dan Scavino, White House director of presidential personnel Sergio Gor, Allison Lutnick, wife of commerce secretary nominee Howard Lutnick, Pamela Gross, former White House adviser to the first lady, donor Patricia Duggan, Emily May Fanjul, wife of Trump donor and sugar magnate Pepe Fanjul, the wives of New England Patriots CEO Robert Kraft and New York Yankees President Randy Levine.Mr. Trump participated in the meeting via telephone and presented his vision for the Kennedy Center. Additionally, the board voted to remove Deborah Rutter, who had served as the Kennedy Center's president since 2014. She had announced her plan to leave at the end of 2025. Rutter participated in Wednesday's meeting. The White House initiated the quiet filling of several open seats this week without much publicity. Some existing board members are expected to remain, sources indicate. While Mr. Trump had initially appointed ally Ric Grenell as interim executive director, his tenure was anticipated to be short-lived, according to two sources. However, the board appointed Grenell as president on Wednesday to temporarily replace Rutter. The board also removed David Rubenstein, a philanthropist and co-founder of the Carlyle Group. He had been the chairman of the Kennedy Center's board of trustees for 14 years and had announced his intention to step down in September 2026. However, the White House removed him prematurely. Mr. Trump desires the productions to avoid leaning into 'woke culture,' as he believes they have in the past. But some programs will continue as planned, such as Haydn's 'Creation,' based on the Biblical creation story and performed by the Choral Arts orchestra and symphonic chorus, one source stated. The lineup — encompassing theater, music, singing, and dance — will persist. However, Mr. Trump wants the performances to appeal to what he considers a broader, more inclusive, and more balanced audience, rather than those catering solely to half the country, one person explained. Some content on the Kennedy Center's website is also expected to be removed, including a reference to the center being 'standing on the traditional land' of the Nacotchtank and Piscataway tribes. Mr. Trump's relationship with the Kennedy Center has been strained since his first term in office, when he and First Lady Melania Trump announced they would not attend the Kennedy Center Honors in 2017 after some award recipients that year threatened a boycott. The White House deems fundraising for the center to be lackluster, according to two sources. The dozens of people on the fundraising team raised more than $90 million last year, while the federal government contributed approximately $45 million. The remainder of its budget came from ticket sales and other proceeds. According to its website, the Kennedy Center hosts over 2,200 performances, events, and exhibits annually, with over 2 million visitors yearly. The center was established by Congress in 1958 and serves as a living memorial to John F. Kennedy. Along with the 36 members appointed by the president, trustees also include ex-officio leaders in government designated by Congress
Arts & Culture Kennedy Center President Trump Board Of Trustees Woke Culture Performing Arts Deborah Rutter Ric Grenell David Rubenstein
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