On Wednesday, President Donald Trump began a major overhaul of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, becoming its chairman and sacking its president Deborah Rutter.
In a press release, The Kennedy Center announced that the board of trustees had appointed Trump as chair. Richard Grenell was named interim president.
Trump has replaced billionaire philanthropist David Rubenstein, who was the chair of the Kennedy Center for many years. The Kennedy Center is one of the most important arts organizations in America and it has been supported by both parties.
Grenell is a former ambassador of Germany to Trump during his first term. She also serves as an envoy to special missions within the administration and helps lead the response to California wildfires.
Trump and his allies have taken over a Washington cultural institution known for its Kennedy Center Honors performances, which is also home to the National Symphony Orchestra as well as the Washington National Opera.
Trump didn’t attend any Honors performances in his first term as president.
Rutter announced in advance her intention to step down by the end of this calendar year. Rubenstein planned to remain as chairman until September 2026.
Trump announced last week that he would also be targeting the Kennedy Center. The Republican, who has been in office for just three weeks, has already tried to cut government jobs and shut down agencies such as the Department of Education, and the U.S. Agency for International Development. In a post on social media, he blasted it for holding “Drag Shows.”
The board’s new members include White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles, Deputy Chief of Staff Dan Scavino, and Usha Vance, wife of Vice President J.D. Vance. The board now consists of 31 members. Appointees from former President Joe Biden’s administration, such as former press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre, were removed.
Sources claim that other employees in Rutter’s office have also been let go.