Trump Dismisses Kennedy Center Board Members and Appoints Himself as Chairman
President Donald Trump announced on Friday that he decided to immediately fire multiple Kennedy Center board members, including the chairman, and take on that role himself.
Trump stated that he and current chair David Rubenstein "do not share [the same] Vision for a Golden Age in Arts and Culture," according to his announcement on Truth Social.
He indicated that a new board would be announced soon and described his appointment as "amazing."
In his post, Trump criticized the Kennedy Center for hosting Drag Shows that specifically targeted youth, stating, "THIS WILL STOP."
The Kennedy Center had previously hosted a Dancing Queens Drag Brunch, showcasing Washington, D.C.'s "most fabulous drag performers," according to its website.
During the October event, attendees enjoyed performances by the 2024 Capital Pride Honoree, Tula, and other drag performers, celebrating the diversity of D.C.'s queer community. Tickets for this event were sold for nearly $100 each and included bottomless mimosas.
After Trump's announcement, the Kennedy Center's website experienced high traffic, limiting user access and requiring hundreds of visitors to queue in an online waiting room.
Trump described the Kennedy Center as "an American jewel" and emphasized the need for it to showcase the nation's "brightest stars" on its stage. He concluded his post with, "At my direction, we are going to make the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C., GREAT AGAIN," adding, "For the Kennedy Center, THE BEST IS YET TO COME!"
As of Friday night, it remains unclear which members of the Board of Trustees have been dismissed.
