Donald Trump announced sweeping changes to the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts on Friday, including naming himself chairman of the Board of Trustees.
Additionally, Trump plans to remove several members of the Kennedy Center’s board, specifically targeting those appointed by former President Joe Biden. The 36-member board is evenly split between Republican and Democratic appointees, each serving six-year terms.
“At my direction, we are going to make the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C., GREAT AGAIN,” Trump wrote in a statement posted to Truth Social on Friday night. “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. We will soon announce a new Board, with an amazing Chairman, DONALD J. TRUMP! Just last year, the Kennedy Center featured Drag Shows specifically targeting our youth — THIS WILL STOP. The Kennedy Center is an American Jewel, and must reflect the brightest STARS on its stage from all across our Nation. For the Kennedy Center, THE BEST IS YET TO COME!”
Trump had a contentious relationship with the Kennedy Center during his first term, notably breaking tradition by declining to attend the institution’s annual Kennedy Center Honors ceremony.
According to The Washington Post, it’s unclear if Trump has the power to remove Kennedy Center board members or install himself as chair, as no president has previous attempted to do so. The institution is apolitical, and is funded by a mix of government and private funds, and ticket sales.