Kennedy Center Responds to Donald Trump’s Plan to Name Himself Chairman: ‘We Have Received No Official Communications’

Mar. 15, 2025

Donald Trump; Kennedy Center.Photo:Anna Moneymaker/Getty; AP Photo/J. David Ake

Anna Moneymaker/Getty; AP Photo/J. David Ake

In a statement shared to its website and via email on Friday, Feb. 7 — just hours afterTrump’s Truth Social poston the matter — the Kennedy Center revealed that it has “received no official communications from the White House” regarding Trump’s declared changes to its board of trustees.

The Kennedy Center.Getty

Getty

The response arrived shortly after Trump, 78, announced on social media Friday that he “decided to immediately terminate” multiple members of the Kennedy Center’s board of trustees, including its chairman.

As of Saturday afternoon, David M. Rubenstein is still listed as the chairman on theKennedy Center’s website.

In his post, the president claimed the cultural center — which has been operating since 1971 — did not share “our vision for a golden age in arts and culture,” referring to his administration. Trump then cited “drag shows" that he claimed were “specifically targeting our youth,” before telling his followers that the cultural center “must reflect” the “brightest STARS” in the nation.

Musicians who have recently performed during Trump’s inauguration events last month includeCarrie Underwood,Rascal FlattsandBilly Ray Cyrus, among others.

As for drag events, the Kennedy Center hashighlighted local drag performersin recent years, per the center’s website. Trump followed-up his post with an apparent AI-generated image of himselfconducting an orchestra, with string instrumentalists sitting behind him.

In its response, the Kennedy Center noted that, throughout its history, it has “enjoyed strong support from members of congress and their staffs — republicans, democrats and independents,” having maintained a “collaborative relationship with every presidential administration” with a “bi-partisan board of trustees.”

Donald Trump in May 2024.James Devaney/GC

James Devaney/GC

As previously reported, Rubenstein, 75, was set to retire in January 2025, and following Trump’s election, he extended his role at the Kennedy Center until September 2026,The New York Timesshared. During his first term in 2016, Trump previously broke tradition when he opted out of attending the Kennedy Center Honors, theTimesandThe Hillreported.

He noted that the three actors would be his “eyes and ears” as they serve as his special envoys for the entertainment industry.

source: people.com