Trump to Attend Kennedy Center Board Meeting as Newly Appointed Chair

Donald Trump, the president of the United States, will visit the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in New York City on Monday. He has taken over the leadership and is looking to stamp his mark on the renowned arts institute.

Trump, the Republican who has reshaped U.S. foreign and domestic policy since he took office on January 20, will be presiding over a Kennedy Center Board meeting on Monday afternoon in his new position.

“We have to straighten it out,” Trump told reporters on Air Force One after spending the weekend in Florida, referring to an arts organization that has enjoyed bipartisan support for decades.

Deborah Rutter, the long-time president of the Kennedy Center, was fired by Trump last month. Richard Grenell – his former ambassador in Germany – was appointed interim president.

Trump refused to attend the Kennedy Center Honors during his first term and complained about drag shows held there when announcing that he would shake up the board of the institution.

Some artists have canceled engagements due to the changes. The musical “Hamilton” which was scheduled to run for a third time at the Washington landmark in 2019 has pulled out.

The show’s producer Jeffrey Seller said that the Trump Administration recently purged professional staff at the Kennedy Center and performing arts events originally produced or hosted by this cultural center.

Grenell called it “a publicity stunt which will backfire”, and he criticized the show’s director, Lin-Manuel Miranda.

Grenell stated on X that “the Arts are for everybody – not only for those Lin agrees with and likes.”

Vice President JDVance and Usha, his wife who is now on the board of directors, attended an event at the Kennedy Center. The crowd booed them as they entered the theatre.