In a Friday night Truth Social post, Trump promised to reinvigorate the institution, citing the example of drag shows featured at the Kennedy Center as examples of its decline. Though Trump didn’t specify who he was purging from the board, it likely includes Democratic strategist Mike Donilon, former White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre, and the Democratic National Committee’s finance chairman, Chris Korge.
“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 said.
“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!” Trump added.
Trump will take the position from philanthropist David Rubenstein, who has held the position for 14 years. He previously signaled that he would step down after September 2026.
Trump had a fraught relationship with the United States’s national cultural center during his first term. After three of five recognized artists said that they would boycott the White House reception before the Kennedy Center Honors Gala, Trump canceled it. He became the only president since the gala’s creation in 1978 not to attend at least once during his presidency.
Greeted with a cold reception, Trump chose to largely avoid the Kennedy Center during his first term. In line with his more hands-on approach his second time around, he’s now pursuing a different strategy.
“The attitude is different this time. The attitude is Go f*** yourself,” one of the people familiar with the planning told the Atlantic. “It’s ridiculous for four years for Trump and Melania to say, ‘We’re not going to the Kennedy Center because Robert De Niro doesn’t like us.’”
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Trump vacillated about federal funding for the Kennedy Center during his first administration, variously defending and criticizing federal funding for it.
The president has signaled an interest in a variety of artistic pursuits during his second term, including a “Garden of American Heroes” and celebrations of the United State’s 250th anniversary in 2026.
