Trump Appoints Himself Kennedy Center Chair, Overhauls Leadership

President Trump removes Biden appointees, installs loyalists, and sparks resignations at the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.

President Trump has appointed himself chairman of the Kennedy Center's board after removing 18 Biden-era appointees and replacing them with allies, including donors' spouses and political loyalists.
Trump's changes include firing long-serving board chairman David Rubenstein and Kennedy Center president Deborah Rutter, with former ambassador Richard Grenell named interim president despite lacking arts administration experience.
The shakeup has led to high-profile resignations and cancellations, with artists like Issa Rae and Renée Fleming publicly denouncing the changes and withdrawing from planned performances.
Critics argue that Trump's actions politicize a historically nonpartisan cultural institution and are part of a broader effort to reshape the arts in alignment with his anti-'woke culture' agenda.
Supporters claim the Kennedy Center needs reform, with Trump promising to restore its focus on ‘American greatness’ and more traditional programming.