President Trump said Friday he would take better control of the John F. Kennedy Center for Washington’s performing arts center, fire a few board members and set it up as chairperson.
“In my direction, I’m going to make the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC great again,” Trump wrote of his social media platform, Truth Social.
“We will soon be closing multiple individuals from the board, including the chairman who does not share our vision for a golden age of arts and culture,” Trump said.
He added: “We will soon announce a new committee and join with our incredible chairman, Donald J. Trump.”
Plans to purge Trump’s board and appoint himself were first reported Friday by the Atlantic. He posted the announcement shortly afterwards.
The news has surprised the world of arts and culture, but it has not been a surprise to those who speak to Trump. A few weeks after his election victory, Trump has told people he wants to be chairman of the renowned Kennedy Center.
The current chairman is David M. Rubenstein, a financier and philanthropist who has held the position for over a decade. Although it was announced that Rubenstein’s retirement in January 2025, after Trump’s election, the Kennedy Center said it will remain in that role until September 2026.
Originally appointed by former President George W. Bush, Reubenstein hosted former President Joseph R. Biden Jr. in one of his homes. But he also maintains a good relationship with Trump, whom he spoke to for an interview with him for a book about the president published in 2024.
After arriving Friday evening just before the president posted the announcement, several board members said they were caught without realizing the news and no one knows whether they will be fired yet. Ta.
However, at least one board member appointed by Biden has received an email notifying him of his firing from Sergio Go, who runs Trump’s presidency. I simply read it. “On behalf of President Donald J. Trump, I am writing to let you know that your position on the Kennedy Center board has ended and is now over. Thank you for your services.” (Subject: “Update from the White House”)
In a statement Friday evening, the Kennedy Center said it had not received communication from the White House regarding changes to the board, and confirmed that some board members had received notification of fire.
“According to the governance of the Centre, established by the Council in 1958, the chair of the Council will be appointed by the Centre’s board members,” the statement said. “There is nothing in the Centre law that prevents the new administration from replacing board members. However, this is the first time that such action has been taken on the Kennedy Center Board of Directors.”
During his first term, Trump broke tradition by refusing to attend the group’s feature program, the Kennedy Center, after several recipients criticized him. .
Trump’s plan to remake the board will break a long-standing precedent at the Kennedy Center. This was the latest example of his efforts to promote norms in Washington in the first 100 days of his second term.
The 36-member Kennedy Center board was recently split equally between Republican and Democrat appointees. It suggests that board members will be appointed for a six-year term and are not simply to be denied. But over the past three weeks, Trump has tested the legal limits he can fire.
In the final weeks of his administration, Biden filled 12 vacancyes on the board and appointed some of his closest aides, including former White House press secretary and political strategist Mike Donilon. . The board is roughly divided between Biden and Trump appointees.
Current board members Trump chose during his first term include his Attorney General Pam Bondy and his first term with Transport Secretary and Sen. Mitch McConnell. Includes Elaine Chao.
Last month, the Trump administration quietly dissolved the Presidential Commission on the Arts and Humanities. This is part of the gust of the executive order aimed at rewinding previous administration policies on art, culture and historical memorials.
Rubenstein did not immediately respond to calls and texts seeking comment.
Kennedy Center leaders recently expressed optimism about Trump, saying that first lady Melania Trump, who serves as honorary chair, has personally expressed interest in reunion with the Center.
Robin Pogrebin contributed the report.
