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Trump Pledges Overhaul of Kennedy Center After First Board Meeting

President Trump, now chairman of the Kennedy Center, criticized its management and programming while outlining plans for physical and operational changes.

U.S. President Donald Trump looks down from the Presidential Box in the Opera House at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts as he participates in a guided tour and leads a board meeting on March 17, 2025 in Washington, DC.
FILE - The Kennedy Center is seen Aug. 13, 2019, in Washington. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin, File)
President Donald Trump talks with reporters as he visits the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, Monday, March 17.

Overview

  • President Trump presided over his first board meeting at the Kennedy Center, following his February takeover and self-appointment as chairman.
  • Trump criticized the center's condition, including its $250 million expansion project, and pledged to improve its physical state and programming.
  • Several artists, including Lin-Manuel Miranda and Issa Rae, canceled performances in protest of Trump's leadership and policy direction.
  • Trump proposed changes to the Kennedy Center Honors selection process, seeking more influence over honoree decisions.
  • The takeover has deepened cultural and political divisions, with protests and audience backlash highlighting the controversy surrounding Trump's leadership.