Trump Appoints Himself Chairman of the Kennedy Center After Firing Board Members
AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein
President Donald Trump announced Friday evening he had appointed himself as the chairman of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts while also divulging he had fired “multiple” people from its board.
In a post on his Truth Social account, Trump blasted the center for featuring “drag shows” he said were “specifically targeting” young people:
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. 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’s announcement apparently sparked a great deal of interest in the leadership at the Kennedy Center.
An initial attempt by Mediaite to visit the venue’s website was met with a message that read, “You are currently in a temporary waiting room to enter the Kennedy Center website.”
As of 6:10 p.m. ET, David Rubenstein was still listed as the chairman of the Kennedy Center. The venue’s Wikipedia page listed Trump as chair.
It was unclear who among the current board of trustees had been axed. Before Trump’s announcement, trustees were listed as Anthony Welters, Deborah Rutter, Jacqueline Badger Mars, Shonda Rhimes, and Aswathi Zachariah.
Honorary chairs include First Ladies Melania Trump, Jill Biden, Michelle Obama, Laura Bush, and Hillary Rodham Clinton.
The Kennedy Center opened its doors in 1971 and was named to honor the late President John F. Kennedy.
