Having come after diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) programming, the LGBTQIA community and immigrants in his first few weeks in office, President Donald Trump is now setting his sights on controlling the arts, announcing plans to fire several Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts board members. With plans to remove David M. Rubenstein, the board chairman, Trump also announced he wanted to take over the lead position.
Taking to his social media platform, Truth Social, the president explained his desire to control the Kennedy Center is because of: “Drag Shows specifically targeting our youth – THAT WILL STOP.”
Trump’s announcement comes after Deborah Rutter, president of the Center and Rubenstein recently announced their resignations. Rutter has stated that several Center board members had already received termination notices.
The arts institution has always maintained a bipartisan board, including established board positions for former first ladies. There is nothing in the arts center’s statute preventing an administration from naming board appointments, but the board of trustees appoints the board chair.
Despite the president’s post, a statement on the Kennedy Center website says, “We have received no official communications from the White House regarding changes to our board of trustees.”
Go to the Kennedy Center’s website for updates at kennedy-center.org.