Trump’s Kennedy Center Overhaul Draws Artist Protests and Public Backlash

Donald Trump’s leadership of the Kennedy Center has led to sweeping changes, including board replacements, programming shifts, and accusations of censorship, prompting resignations and widespread criticism.

Donald Trump appointed himself chairman of the Kennedy Center in February 2025, replacing 13 board members with loyalists including Richard Grenell and Laura Ingraham.
Trump’s leadership has faced major criticism for ending certain programming, such as drag shows, and for labeling past honorees as 'radical left lunatics.'
Prominent artists including Shonda Rhimes, Issa Rae, and Renée Fleming have severed ties with the Kennedy Center in protest of its new direction.
Harvey Fierstein claims his works have been banned from the Kennedy Center, calling the changes an attack on free expression and civil rights.
Public backlash has intensified, with Vice President JD Vance and his wife Usha being booed at a recent Kennedy Center event, reflecting tensions over the institution's politicization.