The Kennedy Center board of trustees made a significant decision on Wednesday afternoon, voting to install President Donald Trump as the new chairman of the board. This decision aligns with Trump's plan, announced last Friday, to overhaul the renowned arts institution under his leadership. Alongside this, the board also voted to terminate Deborah Rutter as president, appointing Richard Grenell, former acting director of national intelligence, as interim president. These decisions were disclosed by individuals familiar with the meeting who chose to remain anonymous.
President Trump participated in the virtual board meeting. The newly restructured board comprises entirely of Trump appointees, following the termination of former president Joe Biden’s appointees. Notable new members include Sergio Gor, the White House personnel office director, Susie Wiles, chief of staff, and Usha Vance.
Expressing his enthusiasm, Trump wrote on Truth Social, “It is a Great Honor to be Chairman of The Kennedy Center, especially with this amazing Board of Trustees. We will make The Kennedy Center a very special and exciting place!”
Amidst these changes, several prominent figures announced their resignation from the Kennedy Center. Musician Ben Folds and opera singer Renée Fleming declared their departure as artistic advisers, as did Shonda Rhimes, the treasurer of the board of trustees. In her statement, Fleming expressed her decision was “out of respect” for both Rutter and former board chair David M. Rubenstein, emphasizing the institution's bipartisan support as a symbol of America's best.
Similarly, Ben Folds shared his decision on Instagram to leave his role with the National Symphony Orchestra.
Following the vote, Deborah Rutter addressed a crowded room of Kennedy Center staff members at the center’s Reach complex. In a heartfelt speech, she stated, “I hope I’m not saying goodbye as a friend and colleague to all of you, but I am leaving now.” She urged the staff to uphold the ideals of courage, justice, freedom, service, and gratitude, values championed by JFK and his family.
Before the vote, tension arose among board members. Paolo Zampolli, a board member appointed by Trump in 2020, expressed frustration over Rutter's perceived resistance to his ideas. He sent her a message outlining an 11-point proposal to enhance offerings at the Kennedy Center, including “thematic and cultural lounges” for global representation and partnerships with NASA or SpaceX for “artistic collaborations in zero gravity.”
The news of Trump's appointment and Rutter's termination led to frequent crashes of the Kennedy Center’s website due to an influx of visitors. On Monday, Trump named Grenell as the interim executive director, a position that technically does not exist, causing confusion within the organization. Employees were informed of Grenell's expected visit to the building on the same day.
A termination email sent by Sergio Gor to several Biden-appointed board members declared their immediate removal. The Kennedy Center subsequently updated its list of board members, designating the terminated individuals as emeritus members. This includes all of Biden’s appointees and Rubenstein, a significant figure as the co-founder of the private equity firm Carlyle Group and owner of the Baltimore Orioles.
In a statement to reporters, Trump criticized the Kennedy Center's past performances, stating, “Some of the shows were terrible. They were a disgrace that they were even put on.” He cited the hosting of drag shows as a reason for his desire to reshape the institution, despite these being a small fraction of the over 2,000 shows hosted annually.
Actor Ann Harada, who performed in the musical “Schmigadoon!” at the Kennedy Center, remarked on the somber mood among staff, expressing concerns over the future of artistic freedom and expression.
The Kennedy Center, which welcomes approximately 2 million visitors annually, operates with a budget of $268 million for 2024. This budget includes $125 million from earned revenue, $95 million from private donations and fundraising, and $45 million from federal appropriations. These funds are allocated for operations and maintenance, rather than arts programming.
During his first presidential term, Trump maintained a distant relationship with the Kennedy Center, notably skipping the Kennedy Center Honors ceremonies, breaking a long-standing bipartisan tradition.
