WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump announced the dismissal of several John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts board of trustees members and his own appointment as chairman.
He also stated his intention to influence the center’s programming, specifically by eliminating performances featuring drag artists.
Trump’s Friday announcement follows a series of actions taken during the early weeks of his second term, including attempts to close federal agencies, freeze spending, and end diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives.
“At my direction, we are going to make the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C., 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,” Trump posted on his social media platform.
“We will soon announce a new Board, with an amazing Chairman, DONALD J. TRUMP!”
In a subsequent online statement, the Kennedy Center acknowledged Trump’s post. “We have received no official communications from the White House regarding changes to our board of trustees,” the statement read. “We are aware that some members of our board have received termination notices from the administration.”
The statement continued: “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.”
Drag artists criticized Trump, asserting that he is targeting them based on their identity in a country where freedom of expression is constitutionally protected.
“This is about who gets to exist in public spaces and whose stories get to be told on America’s stage,” said Blaq Dinamyte, president of Qommittee, a national network of drag artists and allies. “Banning an entire art form is censorship, plain and simple. Americans don’t have to agree on everything, but we should be able to speak our minds and perform our art without bans, retaliation, or intimidation.”
In contrast to President Joe Biden and previous presidents, Trump did not attend the annual Kennedy Center Honors during his first term.
Following Trump’s post, the Kennedy Center website experienced technical difficulties, displaying a “high traffic” message and redirecting visitors to a waiting room.
Trump’s post suggested changes to the center’s performance schedule, mentioning last year’s “Drag Shows specifically targeting our youth — THIS WILL STOP.”
The center’s website indicates that it hosted a “Drag Salute to Divas” preshow in July and a “Drag Brunch” in November.
Trump did not specify which board members, aside from current chairman David Rubenstein, would be dismissed. The board, typically composed of political figures and major donors from both parties, includes individuals such as Biden’s White House press secretary, Karine Jean-Pierre, and Trump allies like Pam Bondi and Lee Greenwood.
Rubenstein, initially appointed by President George W. Bush and reappointed by Presidents Obama and Biden, was first elected in 2010 and re-elected annually since then. Other board members include Mike Donilon, Stephanie Cutter, and Shonda Rhimes.
During his first term, Trump appointed actor Jon Voight and former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee to the board.
—Associated Press writer Darlene Superville in Palm Beach, Florida, contributed to this report.