Trump Declares Himself Chairman of Kennedy Center, Immediately Bans Drag Performances

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President Donald Trump has ignited a fierce controversy within the arts community by announcing sweeping changes to the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. Declaring his intention to usher in a "golden age in arts and culture," Trump has dismissed several board members and appointed himself as chairman. His first major act in this role is the immediate prohibition of performances featuring drag artists at the prestigious institution in Washington, D.C.  

 

 

The announcement comes amid a turbulent start to Trump’s second term in office. Just three weeks into his return to the White House, his administration has aggressively dismantled government agencies, frozen spending, and slashed more than two million federal jobs. Now, Trump has turned his focus to the arts.  

 

 

Taking to his Truth Social platform, the president outlined his vision for the Kennedy Center’s future, stating, “At my direction, we are going to make the Kennedy Center in Washington DC, GREAT AGAIN. I have decided to immediately terminate multiple individuals from the Board of Trustees, including the Chairman, who do not share our Vision for a Golden Age in Arts and Culture.” He went on to declare, “We will soon announce a new board, with an amazing Chairman, DONALD J. TRUMP!” To accompany the post, Trump shared an AI-generated image of himself conducting an orchestra, captioned: “Welcome to the new Kennedy Centre!”  

 

Trump was explicit in his intention to reshape the center’s programming along conservative lines. He decried past events featuring drag performers, particularly those catering to younger audiences, writing, “The Kennedy Centre featured Drag Shows specifically targeting our youth. THIS WILL STOP.” He further declared, “The Kennedy Centre is an American Jewel, and must reflect the brightest STARS on its stage from all across our Nation…THE BEST IS YET TO COME!”  

 

The announcement has sparked outrage among artists and entertainers, many of whom view it as an attack on artistic freedom. Comedian Steve Martin mocked the move in a post on X, suggesting that under Trump’s leadership, the Kennedy Center’s future lineup would include “the incomparable vocal talents of Lara Trump,” a jab at the president’s daughter-in-law, whose attempts at a singing career have been widely criticized. “MC will be DJ Trump. I bet he can be encouraged to dance a bit!” Martin added. “Big Macs available in the lobby. You’ll have a super patriot time.”  

 

Trump’s decision to seize control of the Kennedy Center’s board is a dramatic departure from long-standing bipartisan traditions at the institution, where the 36-member board has historically been evenly divided between Republican and Democratic appointees. In his final weeks in office, former president Joe Biden appointed several close aides, including White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre, to the board.

 

Trump’s first-term appointees included figures such as former Florida attorney general Pam Bondi and country singer Lee Greenwood, whose song *God Bless the USA* became an anthem of Trump’s 2024 campaign.  

 

The Kennedy Center’s longtime chairman, financier and philanthropist David Rubenstein, had originally planned to retire in January. However, following Trump’s election victory, the center announced that he would remain in the role until September 2026. It remains unclear whether Trump’s sweeping changes will alter those plans or if further restructuring is imminent.  

 

As Trump tightens his grip on one of America’s most renowned cultural institutions, reactions from the arts world suggest that his vision of a “golden age” may be met with fierce resistance.

 

Based on a report by The Times 2025-02-11