Former President Donald Trump announced on Friday that he plans to appoint himself as chairman of the Kennedy Center and dismiss several board members.
Lacking experience in managing a performance venue, Trump stated on Truth Social that he would remove multiple trustees, including the current chairman, for not aligning with his vision of a “Golden Age in Arts and Culture.” He emphasized that a new board would be introduced, with himself as chairman.
Trump also criticized the Kennedy Center for hosting drag performances, particularly those aimed at young audiences, vowing to put an end to such programming.
The current chairman, financier and philanthropist David Rubenstein, has led the center for over a decade. While his retirement had been previously scheduled for January, the Kennedy Center later extended his tenure until September 2026 following Trump’s election.
Many board members were caught off guard by Trump’s announcement. According to reports, some members appointed by Biden received abrupt dismissal emails from Sergio Gor, the head of Trump’s personnel office. The emails, with the subject line “An Update from the White House,” informed recipients that their positions had been terminated immediately.
The Kennedy Center released a statement on Friday acknowledging that some board members had been notified of their removal but said it had not been formally informed of Trump’s decision to overhaul its leadership. The center also noted that, per its founding statute from 1958, the board itself is responsible for appointing its chair. While new administrations have the authority to replace board members, no president has taken such sweeping action before.
Trump previously clashed with the Kennedy Center during his first term, skipping the annual Kennedy Center Honors after facing criticism from honorees. His latest move to reshape the board would mark a departure from the bipartisan tradition of governance at the institution.
The 36-member board has historically been evenly divided between Democrats and Republicans.
In Biden’s final weeks in office, he appointed several figures, including former White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre and political strategist Mike Donilon. The current board is now roughly split between Biden and Trump appointees.
