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

[Social Media]

 

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

 

 

[pacovl46]

What an idiot! Worst pres ever!

[Jingthing]

Hitler type move.

If you're surprised, you haven't been paying attention. 

[John Drake]

11 hours ago, Social Media said:

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.”

 

Replace it with a chorus line twerking. Ought to reflect real American values.

[Purdey]

A Golden Age in Arts and Culture? So no more great Greek tragedies by Sophocles or comedies by Aristophanes because the guys all wore skirts? Ban showings of the movies 300 and Troy? Censor “Some Like it Hot”, “Mrs. Doubtfire” and “Tootsie” ?

The guy is so weird.

[BusyB]

 

I wonder how long it'll be before the philistine bigot bans screenings of Some Like it Hot.

 

[Eric Loh]

12 hours ago, Social Media said:

Trump was explicit in his intention to reshape the center’s programming along conservative lines. He decried past events featuring drag performers,

Will he honour the Village People and have them performed YMCA? 

[BusyB]

 

He's getting off to a flying start. Soon he'll be banning 'Degenerate Art'. 

[nomad22]

I wonder how long it will be until he declares himself king.

[TheFishman1]

I remember when he met the president of the air American air Association in Michigan how he told him he wanted peace in Gaza and the other day on his plane I hear him saying that he just looks at Gaza as a real estate deal this guy has lied from day one he’s full the people go back to him and now they’re gonna see what he’s made of for real The guy is a maniac narcissist unfit to have the job as president presidency 

[BusyB]

2 minutes ago, Eric Loh said:

Will he honour the Village People and have them performed YMCA? 

 

'Course he will. He thinks they're the pinnacle of fine arts. I wonder what his Spotify playlist is like (retch, choke ...)

[Red Forever]

Wake up you MAGA morons. Your cult hero won the presidency by a whisker and he (probably his billionaire minders) has promised revenge upon comedians who mock him, the scientists who mocked him (Dr Faucci), the free speech media outlets who mock him, respected Republicans who mock him.

See the pattern emerging here?

Revenge and retribution but no reduction in the price of eggs.

You guys have been played. 
Now you must own it.

[BusyB]

11 minutes ago, Red Forever said:

Wake up you MAGA morons. Your cult hero won the presidency by a whisker and he (probably his billionaire minders) has promised revenge upon comedians who mock him, the scientists who mocked him (Dr Faucci), the free speech media outlets who mock him, respected Republicans who mock him.

See the pattern emerging here?

Revenge and retribution but no reduction in the price of eggs.

You guys have been played. 
Now you must own it.

 

They were too frightened and servile to face off against the system as it was. You don't think they'll grow enough spine or nous to face off against this lot do you? Much less admit they might have just been a teensy weensy bit wrong?

 

Funny, dictators always fancy themselves as artists or connoisseurs of such. And then enforce their taste on the population.

[Kiwiken]

5 hours ago, nomad22 said:

I wonder how long it will be until he declares himself king.

America is not a Kingdom but it is a Country and He is self proclaimed ****!

[Bannoi]

"Despotic leadership is self-aggrandizing and exploitative of others. Such leaders are domineering, vengeful and controlling (House & Howell, 1992; Howell & Avolio, 1992)."

 

Remind you of anybody

[connda]

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

 

Good.

[brewsterbudgen]

Good job Barry Humphries has died.

[BusyB]

 

There has been a takeover. It's the white collar version of January 6. And yes, 70 odd million Americans actually voted for it despite the Shaman and the Proud Boys.

 

A national outbreak of Dunning-Krugerism as far as I'm concerned.

 

But this thread is about Trump's 'relationship' to what he considers art. Art being usually one of the first targets of people like him and his supporters because it expresses free thought and genuine freedom, which is anathema and a threat to them and their project. It's uncontrolled which inculcates fear in those who need to control everything. It puts people beyond their control.

 

That's why the Soviet Union and the Nazis (the two most well known examples) suppressed all forms of art and dictated what was acceptable and what not. The Great Dictator (watch the film, the whole film, from beginning to end: perhaps Charlie Chaplin's best) decides what is 'in' and what is 'out', who is 'in' and who is 'out', according to his own fear based and philistine, tiny minded taste. 'In' is usually retrospective, 'folksy' and utterly phony representations of a supposedly better, 'cleaner' past. Like now in the Kennedy Center. Cheered on by the sycophants, acolytes and the lying excuse makers in TV.

 

Kennedy himself would probably puke. There is indeed another America somewhere - we just can't see it right now and it seems to have caved. Possibly permanently, it's too soon to say. But we can hope.

 

In the meantime: enjoy the show folks.

[Dan O]

3 hours ago, pacovl46 said:

What an idiot! Worst pres ever!

Wait there's more.  He signed the order to use only plastic straws, cutlery and packing. He claims " a plastic staw isn't gonna kill a shark"

 

He really can do it all cant he? I'm amazed he hasn't made a superhero suit with the trump logo on the chest and a nice cape 

[quake]

King Don taking care of business. 

 

 

[sherlockh]

3 hours ago, TheFishman1 said:

I remember when he met the president of the air American air Association in Michigan how he told him he wanted peace in Gaza and the other day on his plane I hear him saying that he just looks at Gaza as a real estate deal this guy has lied from day one he’s full the people go back to him and now they’re gonna see what he’s made of for real The guy is a maniac narcissist unfit to have the job as president presidency 

 

10 minutes ago, quake said:

King Don taking care of business. 

 

 

 

[sherlockh]

As long as he doesn't decide that he should be King of England we in UK will be happy. However his petulant behaviour and hissy fits leave a lot to be desired of a man who thinks he is untouchable.

[Stocky]

Is this article parody or reality?

It's become increasingly hard to distinguish the two.

[blaze master]

3 hours ago, Eric Loh said:

Will he honour the Village People and have them performed YMCA? 

 

Didn't he have them perform at one of his events though ?

 

This is awkward.

[OneMoreFarang]

Wonderful. He does 100 things, and 1 is a good idea. That's something.

 

[placnx]

16 hours ago, Social Media said:

Trump was explicit in his intention to reshape the center’s programming along conservative lines.

How about the Liberty University Concert Choir from Lynchburg, VA?

[candide]

A clown at the head of the the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, it makes sense! 😆