Trump Fires Kennedy Center Board, Names Himself Chairman

Trump Fires Kennedy Center Board, Names Himself Chairman \ Newslooks \ Washington DC \ Mary Sidiqi \ Evening Edition \ President Donald Trump announced that he is firing multiple members of the Kennedy Center Board of Trustees, including Chairman David Rubenstein, and appointing himself as the new chairman. He also pledged to end drag performances at the prestigious arts institution, citing past events that featured drag shows. Trump’s takeover is part of his broader push to reshape federal institutions, cut spending, and eliminate diversity programs. The Kennedy Center website crashed shortly after his announcement, as online traffic surged.

Trump Reshapes Kennedy Center Leadership: Quick Looks

• Trump fired multiple Kennedy Center board members and declared himself chairman.
• He vowed to ban drag performances, citing past events he opposes.
• Philanthropist David Rubenstein, the long-serving chairman, was removed from his post.
• The Kennedy Center website crashed after Trump’s announcement due to high traffic.
• Trump plans to reshape the board, removing members who don’t align with his vision.
• High-profile Democrats and Trump allies currently serve on the board.
• Past presidents attended Kennedy Center events, but Trump skipped them during his first term.
• Trump continues his second-term agenda, cutting programs and reshaping cultural institutions.

Deep Look

Trump Fires Kennedy Center Board and Declares Himself Chairman

In a stunning move, President Donald Trump announced on Friday that he is firing multiple members of the Kennedy Center Board of Trustees and appointing himself as chairman.

Trump made the announcement via social media, writing:

“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.”

He followed up with:

“We will soon announce a new Board, with an amazing Chairman, DONALD J. TRUMP!”

The decision marks the latest move in Trump’s aggressive second-term agenda, where he has been dismantling federal agencies, freezing government spending, and eliminating diversity and inclusion programs. Now, his focus has turned to the nation’s leading cultural institution.

Who Was Removed?

While Trump did not list every board member he plans to remove, he confirmed the firing of Chairman David Rubenstein, a billionaire philanthropist and co-owner of the Baltimore Orioles.

• Rubenstein’s tenure began in 2010, and he was reelected annually.
• He was originally appointed by President George W. Bush and later reappointed by Barack Obama and Joe Biden.
• Rubenstein is a major political donor and has deep ties to Washington elites.

The Kennedy Center Board of Trustees is a mix of Democratic officials, Republican allies, and entertainment industry figures.

Among the current Democratic members:

• Karine Jean-Pierre – Biden’s White House press secretary.
• Mike Donilon – A longtime Biden advisor.
• Stephanie Cutter – A former Obama advisor.
• Shonda Rhimes – Television producer and Biden fundraiser.

But Trump’s allies also sit on the board, including:

• Pam Bondi – Trump’s attorney general.
• Lee Greenwood – Musician whose song God Bless the USA was Trump’s campaign anthem.
• Jon Voight – Actor and longtime Trump supporter, appointed by Trump in 2019.
• Mike Huckabee – Former Arkansas governor and Trump’s pick for U.S. ambassador to Israel.

It remains unclear which other members will be removed and who will replace them.

Trump’s Crackdown on Drag Performances

Beyond reshaping the Kennedy Center’s leadership, Trump also announced a crackdown on certain types of performances.

He specifically targeted drag performances, declaring:

“The Kennedy Center featured Drag Shows specifically targeting our youth — THIS WILL STOP.”

This is in reference to events like:

• “A Drag Salute to Divas” – A preshow event held in July 2023.
• A “Drag Brunch” in November 2023, which gained national attention.

Trump’s remarks align with his broader conservative agenda, which has included efforts to restrict drag performances, LGBTQ+ events, and diversity initiatives.

Kennedy Center Website Crashes After Trump’s Announcement

Shortly after Trump’s social media post, the Kennedy Center website crashed due to an overwhelming surge in traffic.

Visitors to the site received the message:

“We are experiencing high traffic.”

Users were placed in a “waiting room”, with hundreds of people ahead of them trying to access the site.

While it’s unclear if the crash was caused by Trump supporters or critics, it demonstrates the immediate impact of his takeover.

Trump’s History with the Kennedy Center

Unlike past presidents, Trump never attended the Kennedy Center Honors during his first term.

• The Kennedy Center Honors is one of the most prestigious cultural events in Washington, celebrating artists, musicians, and performers.
• Presidents typically attend and honor the recipients, but Trump skipped the ceremonies entirely from 2017 to 2021.
• Some critics argue that Trump has long viewed the Kennedy Center as an institution controlled by Washington elites, which may explain his desire to reshape its leadership and programming.

His move to take direct control of the Kennedy Center suggests he wants to exert more influence over American arts and culture.

Trump’s Second-Term Power Moves

The Kennedy Center takeover is part of Trump’s broader agenda in his second term, which has included:

• Dismantling federal agencies – He has proposed shutting down multiple departments.
• Freezing government spending – Cutting budgets across the board.
• Eliminating diversity programs – Ending DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) initiatives across the government.

His latest move indicates that cultural institutions like the Kennedy Center are not exempt from his sweeping reforms.

What’s Next?

• Trump will announce a new board to replace the members he removed.
• The Kennedy Center may face lawsuits or internal pushback over his leadership changes.
• The debate over arts funding, free speech, and government influence in cultural programming is likely to intensify.
• Trump’s 2024 Kennedy Center Honors attendance could become a major political moment.

Trump’s self-appointment as chairman signals that he wants direct control over America’s most prestigious cultural institution—a move that will delight conservatives and enrage his critics.

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