Trump ‘Unanimously’ Elected New Kennedy Center Chairman

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump said Wednesday that he’s been “unanimously” elected to lead the board of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, a week after he announced a shakeup of the institution.

As previously reported by The Well News, Trump last week abruptly terminated several members of the institution’s board of trustees, explaining that they did not share his vision “for a golden age in arts and culture.”

Among those cut loose were allies of former President Joe Biden, including former White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre, Democratic political strategist Mike Donilon, and Democratic National Committee Finance Chair Chris Korge.

Joining the board, according to multiple reports, are White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles, White House Deputy Chief of Staff Dan Scavino and Second Lady Usha Vance.

Other additions are expected in the coming days; some current board members are expected to remain.

Though Trump announced he would be the Kennedy Center’s new chairman last week, the formal board vote bestowing the position on him came Wednesday afternoon, after the president, participating in the meeting by phone, laid out his vision for the cultural institution’s future.

“It is a Great Honor to be Chairman of The Kennedy Center, especially with this amazing Board of Trustees,” Trump wrote on Truth Social moments after the vote. “We will make The Kennedy Center a very special and exciting place!”

The board also voted to oust Deborah Rutter, who has served as president of the Kennedy Center since 2014. 

Rutter, who participated in Wednesday’s meeting, had previously announced she planned to leave by the end of the year.

Trump has tapped ally Ric Grenell, already his envoy for special missions, to be interim executive director.

The president hasn’t always enjoyed the most cordial of relationships with the Kennedy Center or the artist community that makes up its extended family. 

In 2017, for instance, he and First Lady Melania Trump chose not to attend that year’s Kennedy Center Honors, after some award recipients threatened to boycott the high-profile annual event.

On Wednesday, the singer-songwriter Ben Folds, frontman of the Ben Folds Five, announced on Instagram that he was stepping down immediately as artistic advisor to the National Symphony Orchestra because of the president’s actions. 

“Not for me,” he wrote.

“It’s been a wonderful eight years working with Kennedy Center President Deb Rutter, fellow artistic advisor Renee Fleming and the entire NSO staff, encouraging thousands of fresh new  audiences to appreciate symphonic music,” he continued. “Mostly, and above all, I will miss the musicians of our nation’s symphony orchestra — just the best!”

Earlier this week, Jean-Pierre took to the X platform both to reflect on her relationship with the Kennedy Center and issue a challenge to those upset by the president’s decision to take over the cultural institution.

“The Kennedy Center has been a place of tremendous joy for me and my family for many years,” she wrote. “From attending the Kennedy Center Honors to enjoying a performance with my daughter, to this past holiday season participating as guest narrator in “The Night Before Christmas” with the National Symphony Orchestra Pops.

“I love everything about this remarkable institution and will always hold many precious memories close to my heart,” Jean-Pierre said, adding, “It was an honor to be appointed and to be on the board. 

“I’ll be fine,” she continued. “But we must continue the work to ensure that the arts and humanities remain a core fabric of our society and culture.

“This is when we must double-down on believing that all hope is not lost and the only people who can push us forward to our greatest humanity … is us. We got this,” she said.

The Kennedy Center hosts over 2,200 performances, events and exhibits a year, and welcomes over 2 million visitors annually, according to its website. 

The center was created by Congress in 1958 and serves as a living memorial to John F. Kennedy. Along with the 36 members appointed by the president, trustees also include ex-officio leaders in government designated by Congress.

The Kennedy Center’s upcoming season includes revivals of popular musicals such as “Les Misérables,” “Legally Blonde,” and “The Sound of Music,” as well as a show celebrating the 50th anniversary of “Dungeons & Dragons.”

Dan can be reached at [email protected] and @DanMcCue