On Friday, February 7th, President Trump announced that he had decided to immediately replace multiple board members of the iconic Kennedy Center in Washington D.C. and take on the role of chairman of the cultural center himself.
The board of directors at the Kennedy Center includes presidential appointees as well as ex-officio directors serving in various governmental positions. Named after former President John F. Kennedy, the performance center hosts thousands of shows annually and is home to the National Symphony Orchestra and the Washington National Opera.
The Kennedy Center’s board of directors consists of 36 members appointed by the President of the United States, each serving a 6-year term.
Typically, the chairman is appointed by the board. The current chairman is David Rubenstein, a private equity billionaire and philanthropist, who has been the most significant individual donor in the history of the Kennedy Center. Rubenstein’s chairmanship was set to expire in 2026, and he has served in this position for 14 years.
In a statement released on Friday evening, the Kennedy Center acknowledged the decision and informed that some board members had received termination notices from the government, though the center had not yet received official notification from the White House regarding the board changes.
The statement added, “The Kennedy Center’s regulations do not prevent the new government from replacing board members; however, this will be the first time the Kennedy Center’s board of directors will experience such changes.”
On Friday, Trump took to the media platform “Truth Social” to explain the dismissal of Kennedy Center board members, stating, “They do not agree with our vision for the golden age of arts and culture.”
“Just last year, the Kennedy Center hosted drag shows specifically targeting youth,” Trump wrote. “It must stop!”
“The Kennedy Center is a treasure of the United States and must showcase the brightest stars on stage. For the Kennedy Center, the best days are ahead!” he added.
Trump’s relationship with the Kennedy Center has been controversial. During his first term, he broke tradition by not attending the Kennedy Center Honors gala because some honorees had indicated they would boycott the White House reception.
Trump also mentioned that he would soon announce the new board lineup and serve as the new chairman himself.
“Under my leadership, we will make the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. great again,” he wrote.
Furthermore, Trump shared an illustration of “Trump Conducting” in another post.