Trump Says He’s Firing Kennedy Center Board Members and Naming Himself Chairman
President Announces Plans to Terminate Board Members and Dictate Programming
President Trump said Friday that he is firing members of the board of trustees for the Kennedy Center and naming himself chairman.
New Board, New Vision
He also indicated that he would be dictating programming at one of the nation’s premier cultural institutions, specifically declaring that he’d put an end to events featuring performers in drag.
Reason for Firing
“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,” Trump wrote on his social media website.
New Board, Same Mission
“We will soon announce a new Board, with an amazing Chairman, DONALD J. TRUMP!” he added.
Kennedy Center Responds
In a statement late Friday, the Kennedy Center said it was aware of Trump’s post. “We have received no official communications from the White House regarding changes to our board of trustees,” the statement said. “We are aware that some members of our board have received termination notices from the administration.”
Established Governance
The statement continued: “Per the Center’s governance established by Congress in 1958, the chair of the board of trustees is appointed by the Center’s board members. There is nothing in the Center’s statute that would prevent a new administration from replacing board members; however, this would be the first time such action has been taken with the Kennedy Center’s board.”
Changes to the Center’s Schedule
Trump suggested in his post that he would be implementing changes to the center’s performance schedule, noting that last year “the Kennedy Center featured Drag Shows specifically targeting our youth — THIS WILL STOP.”
Recent Events
According to its website, the center in July hosted a preshow titled “A Drag Salute to Divas” and a November “Drag Brunch.”
Firing Board Members
In his post, Trump did not clarify which board members he would be firing besides the chairman, philanthropist David Rubenstein. The board often features political power brokers and major donors, and is made up of both Republicans and Democrats.
Current Board Members
The current board features Biden’s last White House press secretary, Karine Jean-Pierre, as well as Mike Donilon, Biden’s longtime ally, and Stephanie Cutter, a former Obama advisor. The treasurer of the center’s board of trustees is television producer Shonda Rhimes, who hosted fundraisers for Biden before he abandoned his reelection bid last summer. But the current board also features Trump allies, including his new attorney general, Pam Bondi, and Lee Greenwood, whose song “God Bless the USA” was the unofficial anthem of Trump’s presidential campaign last year.
Conclusion
The article concludes that the President’s decision to fire board members and name himself chairman has sparked concerns about the future of the Kennedy Center and its commitment to artistic freedom.
FAQs
* What is the Kennedy Center?
* The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, commonly referred to as the Kennedy Center, is a living memorial to President John F. Kennedy, established in 1958.
* What is the purpose of the Kennedy Center?
* The Kennedy Center is a premier cultural institution in the United States, hosting a wide range of performances, including theater, dance, music, and visual arts.
* What is the current composition of the board of trustees?
* The board of trustees is made up of both Republicans and Democrats, including philanthropists, politicians, and artists.
