President Donald Trump Aims MAGA Overhaul Of Kennedy Center
Written by djfrosty on February 10, 2025
President Donald Trump continues to push his agenda to make America great again, and the MAGA acronym is becoming far more than a catchy slogan under the current administration. In a recent post on his Truth Social network, President Donald Trump wants to reshape the programming of the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., claiming that the venue is promoting entertainment that doesn’t fit his MAGA vision.
In one of his frequent Truth Social posts, President Trump railed against the Kennedy Center’s programming, highlighting in his rant that the institution has moved from its intended goal of showcasing American exceptionalism in so many words.
From Truth Social:
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!
Following that post, President Trump posted an AI-rendered image of himself as a composer leading an orchestra at the Kennedy Center.
The Kennedy Center responded to President Trump’s missive with a statement of their own:
Throughout our history, the Kennedy Center has enjoyed strong support from members of [C]ongress and their staffs—Republicans, Democrats, and Independents. Since our doors opened [in 1971], we have had a collaborative relationship with every presidential administration. Since that time, the Kennedy Center has had a bi-partisan board of trustees that has supported the arts in a non-partisan fashion.
While we are a living memorial to President Kennedy, we are also a unique public-private partnership. The Center is supported by federal annual appropriations for the upkeep and maintenance of the building as a federal memorial, or approximately 16% of the total operating budget. Support for the Center’s artistic programming comes from ticket sales, donations, rental income, and other revenue sources.
The Kennedy Center is aware of the post made recently by POTUS on social media. We have received no official communications from the White House regarding changes to our board of trustees. We are aware that some members of our board have received termination notices from the administration.
Per the Center’s governance established by Congress in 1958, the chair of the board of trustees is appointed by the Center’s board members. There is nothing in the Center’s statute that would prevent a new administration from replacing board members; however, this would be the first time such action has been taken with the Kennedy Center’s board.
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Photo: Getty