‘Everybody is Welcome?’ CBS’s Gayle King Confronts Trump-Appointee Over Kennedy Center’s ‘Political Leanings’

Gayle King, co-host of CBS Mornings, confronted Trump-appointed Kennedy Center head Richard Grenell over the venue’s “political leanings” now that Trump has made himself board president and master of ceremonies for the upcoming Kennedy Center Honors.

The ceremony, which takes place in December, will honor Sylvester Stallone, George Strait, Gloria Gaynor, Michael Crawford, and KISS.

“When it was first announced…some artists pulled out and said, ‘I don’t want to participate.’ They were concerned about the political leanings of it,” King began. “Can you say to people that there really are not politics involved in the Kennedy Center Honors?”

“Look, we want every single person to come,” Grenell said. “Harvey Fierstein, for instance, came out and said ‘I’m banned from the Kennedy Center.’ Not true. No one is banned. I haven’t canceled a single show.”

“You have not?” King asked.

“Not a single show,” Grenell repeated. “But, let’s be honest about this, many on the left can’t come and perform for conservatives because — whatever reason — they’re political.”

“But, you’re saying they’re welcome? Everybody is welcome?” King asked.

“Of course! Everyone is welcome at the Kennedy Center,” Grennell said, continuing:

The only change we’ve done — we haven’t canceled a single show — Hamilton pulled out because they didn’t want to play for Republicans. What i have been clear about is every single show must become revenue neutral. We haven’t canceled anyone. But if you don’t sell enough seats and you can’t get corporations to pay the bill, then you’re on the hook. And if you can’t be on the hook for that, don’t ask us to go into more debt. when I arrived at the Kennedy Center we were paying the staff with debt reserves. We were literally having zero money in the bank.

“And you see that changing already based on what you’re saying?” King asked.

“Dramatic fundraising increase,” Grenell said. “We’ve made some hard cuts. We’ve had to make changes. Look at The New York Times piece earlier this week. Every arts institution has been having these problems. What I would say, Gayle, is there are a lot of media that all they want to do is focus negatively on the conservatives.”

Watch the clip above via CBS Mornings.