The Kennedy Center has released a statement confirming reports that President Donald Trump has issued termination notices to members of the Washington, D.C. venue's board—in an attempt to install new leadership with Trump himself as board chair. The venue's statement comes in the wake of posts from Trump on Truth Social that indicate his interest to completely control the institution, which would be unprecedented.
This takeover of the Kennedy Center is the latest attempt from Trump to undo many of former President Joe Biden's actions—the 46th president appointed a number of the Kennedy Center's board members before he left office.
Historically, members of the Kennedy Center's board have been appointed by both Democrat and Republican presidents. The Center's current board chair is financier and philanthropist David M. Rubenstein, who has held the position for more than a decade and was scheduled to stay in the role until September 2026—Rubenstein had been appointed by President George W. Bush. The 36-member board is currently evenly divided between Democrats and Republicans. Each member serves six-year terms.
The Kennedy Center indicates that Trump is able to replace board members, who will then collectively have the authority to appoint a chair. The venue also noted that Trump's actions to assume control of the Kennedy Center are a first. "Throughout our history, the Kennedy Center has enjoyed strong support from members of congress and their staffs—Republicans, Democrats, and Independents. Since our doors opened in 1971, we have had a collaborative relationship with every presidential administration. Since that time, the Kennedy Center has had a bi-partisan board of trustees that has supported the arts in a non-partisan fashion."
Though it is a non-profit institution, only a small portion of the Kennedy Center's budget comes from the federal government. As the venue's statement shares, the institution "is supported by federal annual appropriations for upkeep and maintenance of the building as a federal memorial, or approximately 16% of the total operating budget." Its artistic programming, on the other hand, is maintained through "ticket sales, donations, rental income, and other revenue sources."
In a statement on Truth Social, Trump wrote that the impetus for this action against the Kennedy Center is because the venue regularly hosts drag performances: "Just last year, the Kennedy Center featured Drag Shows specifically targeting our youth—THIS WILL STOP." On January 20, the day of his inauguration, Trump signed executive orders saying, "it is the policy of the United States to recognize two sexes, male and female" and ending diversity, equity, and inclusion programs in federal agencies.
This isn't the only shakeup at the Kennedy Center because of the Trump Administration. Its president Deborah Rutter, who had served since 2014, announced January 27 that she would step down at the end of the year.
The Kennedy Center is currently hosting the world premiere of the musical Schmigadoon! In response to this news, cast member Ann Harada posted on Instagram, "Well I’m glad I got to play here one last time. I’m so sorry @kennedycenter for the inevitable disruptions, maybe for the destructions. We’ll never forget you."
Since his return into the White House, Trump has taken a more controlling approach to the arts. He has also eliminated the Presidential Committee on the Arts and the Humanities, a Reagan-era advisory body that had been disbanded during Trump's first term and then restarted in 2022 by the Biden administration.
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Read The Kennedy Center's full statement below.
"Throughout our history, the Kennedy Center has enjoyed strong support from members of congress and their staffs—Republicans, Democrats, and Independents. Since our doors opened in1971, we have had a collaborative relationship with every presidential administration. Since that time, the Kennedy Center has had a bi-partisan board of trustees that has supported the arts in a non-partisan fashion.
"While we are a living memorial to President Kennedy, we are also a unique public-private partnership. The Center is supported by federal annual appropriations for the upkeep and maintenance of the building as a federal memorial, or approximately 16% of the total operating budget. Support for the Center’s artistic programming comes from ticket sales, donations, rental income, and other revenue sources.
"The Kennedy Center is aware of the post made recently by POTUS on social media. We have received no official communications from the White House regarding changes to our board of trustees. We are aware that some members of our board have received termination notices from the administration.
"Per the Center’s governance established by Congress in 1958, the chair of the board of trustees is appointed by the Center’s board members. There is nothing in the Center’s statute that would prevent a new administration from replacing board members; however, this would be the first time such action has been taken with the Kennedy Center’s board."
