President Donald Trump announced plans to replace multiple members of the Kennedy Center's Board of Trustees, including Chairman David M. Rubenstein, citing past programming featuring drag shows as a reason for change.
President Donald Trump announced his intention to remove several members from the Kennedy Center 's Board of Trustees, including Chairman David M. Rubenstein. Rubenstein, a prominent investor and philanthropist, has headed the Kennedy Center since 2010. He is also co-founder of the Carlyle Group, chairman of the National Gallery of Art and the Council on Foreign Relations, and a major supporter of arts and cultural institutions.
Trump criticized past programming at the Kennedy Center, particularly highlighting drag performances hosted at the venue. In a Truth Social post, Trump stated, '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! Just last year, the Kennedy Center featured Drag Shows specifically targeting our youth — THIS WILL STOP. The Kennedy Center is an American Jewel, and must reflect the brightest STARS on its stage from all across our Nation. For the Kennedy Center, THE BEST IS YET TO COME!' The Kennedy Center, established as a living tribute to President John F. Kennedy, has long been a cornerstone of the nation's cultural landscape. President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed legislation in 1958 creating a National Cultural Center in Washington, D.C. President and Mrs. Kennedy launched a $30 million fundraising campaign in 1962 to support its construction, enjoying bipartisan backing from former President Eisenhower. Following President Kennedy's assassination, Congress renamed the center in his honor, with President Lyndon B. Johnson formally signing the designation into law in 1964. In 2024, the Kennedy Center hosted shows such as 'Dancing Queens Drag Brunch' and 'A Drag Salute to Divas.' Trump vowed to end such performances, calling for a 'Golden Age in Arts and Culture' under his leadership. Throughout its history, the Kennedy Center has benefited from strong support from members of Congress, spanning both Republican and Democratic parties. Since its opening in 1971, the Center has maintained a collaborative relationship with every presidential administration. The Kennedy Center has consistently operated under a bipartisan board of trustees, fostering the arts in a non-partisan manner. While the Center serves as a living memorial to President Kennedy, it also functions as a unique public-private partnership. The federal government provides annual appropriations for the upkeep and maintenance of the building, which serves as a national memorial, covering approximately 16% of the total operating budget. The Center's artistic programming receives support from ticket sales, donations, rental income, and other revenue streams. The Kennedy Center acknowledges the recent social media post by the President and has not received any official communications from the White House regarding changes to its board of trustees. The Center is aware that some board members have received termination notices from the administration. According to the Center's governance structure established by Congress in 1958, the chair of the board of trustees is appointed by the Center's board members. There are no provisions in the Center's statute that would prevent a new administration from replacing board members; however, this would mark the first instance of such action taken with the Kennedy Center's board
Politics KENNEDY CENTER DONALD TRUMP DAVID M. RUBENSTEIN DRAG SHOWS ARTS CULTURE BOARD OF TRUSTEES POLITICAL CONTROVERSY
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