President Trump has been unanimously elected as the new chair of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, a significant move that follows a promise he made last week. Trump announced the appointment on Truth Social, expressing his pride in leading the Kennedy Center and his intention to make it an exciting place through a collaborative effort with the newly formed board.
This recent election comes after Trump removed 18 Democratic appointees from the board, making way for a new roster of members. Among them are Usha Vance, wife of the Vice President, and other notable figures such as Susie Wiles and Dan Scavino. The Kennedy Center’s leadership stressed that changes to the board and its members followed the governance structure set by Congress, which allows for new administrations to appoint board members.
Deborah Rutter, the former president of the Kennedy Center, conveyed her pride in the institution’s work during her tenure and stressed the importance of artistic expression in American democracy. She emphasized that artists play a crucial role in reflecting societal truths and nurturing the values of freedom and equality.
Despite Trump’s new position, it is noteworthy that he has never attended a performance at the Kennedy Center, famously skipping the Kennedy Center Honors in 2018 due to the criticism he faced from several honorees.
Richard Grenell, a longtime ally of Trump, has been appointed as the interim executive director, guiding the center through this transition.
Overall, this change in leadership marks a new chapter for the Kennedy Center, where the hope is to continue upholding its mission of artistic expression while navigating the challenges that come with political shifts.