Donald Trump has named himself chairman of the Kennedy Centre.
Share and Follow

President Donald Trump said that he is firing members of the board of trustees for the Kennedy Centre and naming himself chairman.

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.

Trump’s announcement came as the new president has bulldozed his way across official Washington during the first weeks of his second term, trying to shutter federal agencies, freeze spending and ending diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives across the government.

Donald Trump has named himself chairman of the Kennedy Centre.
Donald Trump has named himself chairman of the Kennedy Centre. (AP)

“At my direction, we are going to make the Kennedy Centre 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.

“We will soon announce a new Board, with an amazing Chairman, DONALD J. TRUMP!”

Unlike former President Joe Biden and other commanders in chief through the decades, Trump did not attend the annual Kennedy Centre Honours ceremonies during his first term, held at the performing arts venue in Washington’s Foggy Bottom neighborhood that opened in 1971.

Shortly after Trump’s post, the Kennedy Centre website began experiencing technical difficulties. Visitors got a message reading “We are experiencing high traffic” and were redirected to a “waiting room” that listed how many hundreds of people were trying to access the site ahead of them.

Trump suggested in his post that he would be implementing some changes to the center’s performance schedule, noting that last year “the Kennedy Centre featured Drag Shows specifically targeting our youth — THIS WILL STOP.”

According to its website, the centre in July hosted a preshow titled “A Drag Salute to Divas” and a November “Drag Brunch.”

The Kennedy Centre Honours is an event celebrating contributors to American culture. In this photo, George Clooney greets Joe Biden. (AP)

In his post, Trump did not clarify which board of trustee members he would be terminating besides the current chairman, philanthropist David Rubenstein. The board often features political powerbrokers and major donors, and is currently made up of members from both sides of the aisle.

Rubenstein was first elected to the post in 2010 and reelected each year since that time. Also, the principal owner of the Baltimore Orioles, Rubenstein was originally appointed to the Kennedy Centre board by President George W. Bush and subsequently reappointed by President Barack Obama and Biden.

The current board features Biden’s White House press secretary, Karine Jean-Pierre, as well as Mike Donilon, Biden’s longtime ally, and Stephanie Cutter, a former Obama adviser. 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 Pam Bondi, the new president’s recently confirmed attorney general, and Lee Greenwood, whose song “God Bless the USA,” was the unofficial anthem of Trump’s presidential campaign.

During his first term in 2019, Trump announced that he was tapping actor Jon Voight, a longtime supporter, to the board, along with former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, who he’s picked as US ambassador to Israel this time.

Share and Follow
You May Also Like
Sam Kerr and Kristie Mewis marry in private ceremony in Perth

Inside the Romantic Perth Wedding of Soccer Stars Sam Kerr and Kristie Mewis

Renowned Australian footballer Sam Kerr has tied the knot with her partner,…
The bulk of Cath Armstrong's grocery shopping for the entire year is done in just three days.

Yearly Pantry Restock: Cath Prepares for 2026 with Detailed Meal Planning Strategy

Cath Armstrong is not a fan of grocery shopping, so the Victorian…
Revellers defy terror fears to flock to Sydney NYE celebrations

Sydney NYE Celebrations Draw Massive Crowds Despite Terror Concerns

Fears of a desolate New Year’s Eve turnout deserted by people fearing…
Outside Jackie Jarvis, WA Fisheries Minister's office

Shocking Discovery: 200kg of Shark Heads Mysteriously Dumped at MP’s Office

Three individuals have been formally charged following an odorous incident involving the…
Queensland floods

Tragic Loss of Life in Queensland as Torrential Rains Persist

A man has died in Queensland floodwaters as the state braces for…
Lobster worth over $590,000 among spate of US seafood thefts

Lobster Valued at Over $590,000 Among Series of US Seafood Heists

Lobster worth $US400,000 ($597,100), 40,000 oysters and a cache of crabmeat all…
New Year's Eve: Sydney celebrates 2026 with spectacular fireworks as city ushers in new year after honouring Bondi victims - live updates

Sydney Rings in 2026 with Dazzling New Year’s Eve Fireworks and Tributes to Bondi Victims – Live Coverage

As the clock ticks down on the last hours of 2025, the…

Discover How Reading Trends in Australia Transformed by 2025

During the summer holiday season, there’s nothing like grabbing a good book,…