On Friday, February 2, 2025, former President Donald Trump made a significant shake-up at the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington D.C. He decided to oust billionaire philanthropist David Rubenstein, close friend of President Joe Biden, from his position as Chairman and fired several other members from the Board of Trustees at the Kennedy Center.
Trump’s choice is part of his strategy on how to reshape the management at the Kennedy Center, and it was clear he thought the center needed a different direction. The president, in his words, said Rubenstein did not align with his view of American arts and culture.
New Plan for Kennedy Center by Trump
In a message on his social media platform, Truth Social, Trump explained that he wants to create a “Golden Age in Arts and Culture” at the Kennedy Center. He said Rubenstein’s vision didn’t match his own, so he decided to replace him. Trump also said that he would become the new chairman of the board himself.
By making himself the chairman, Trump demonstrates his desire to be in charge of everything that happens at the Kennedy Center. He believes that the center should represent the best of American arts and feature talented artists from all over the country.
New Faces on the Board
Among the changes, Trump appointed new members to the board of the Kennedy Center. These include country singer Lee Greenwood, businessman Paolo Zampolli, and Attorney General Pamela Bondi. Trump selected these people to help him execute his vision for the Kennedy Center.
These appointments have shown that he is serious in changing the center’s direction, as he intends to have individuals who share the same values of his help direct the future of the Kennedy Center.
What Trump Doesn’t Like About the Kennedy Center
This decision comes after Trump’s disagreement with some activities by the Kennedy Center recently. He disclosed that some drag shows had been performed at the Kennedy Center-a thing he felt not appropriate to allow, especially for the young generation in the audience. Trump promised these shows would be stopped.
He believes that the Kennedy Center is an important cultural institution and should focus on showing the best of American talent. Trump wants the center to feature artists who represent the best of the nation, and he plans to make it a place that everyone can be proud of.
A Political Move?
Some believe that Trump’s decision to remove Rubenstein and other board members is partly because Rubenstein is a supporter of President Biden. Since Trump and Biden are political rivals, some see this as Trump taking action against people who support his political opponent. Trump has made it clear that he wants to change the way many things are done in America, including in cultural institutions like the Kennedy Center.
Since his second term began in January 2025, Trump has been constantly making headlines with his power influence over various organizations. The ousting of the leadership of the Kennedy Center is not different from this trend.
Trump’s Culture War
Trump’s actions also fit into what is often called the “culture wars.” This term describes the debates and disagreements over cultural issues like values, identity, and what should be shown in art and entertainment. Trump has been vocal about wanting to bring back traditional values in American culture. He doesn’t like some of the changes happening in arts and entertainment, especially when it comes to new ideas about gender and sexuality.
Making these changes at the Kennedy Center means showing that he wants to bring the arts back to what he really feels is important, something he did in focusing on art which will reflect much more traditional American values.
Changes at the Top of the Kennedy Center
While all these changes were being made to the board, the president of the Kennedy Center, Deborah Rutter, announced that she would be leaving office at the end of the year. She has been at the head of the center for several years but is ending her tenure there.
Even a more precarious outlook into the Kennedy Center’s future results from the latest changes; it happens at the departure time of Rutter, the long-standing chair when control will switch hands over the board.
To everyone’s assumption, it won’t be difficult to have new members under President Trump choose who gets the slot to serve for this highly treasured Kennedy Center institution.
What Is Happening Now?
It is still unclear what this change will be like for the Kennedy Center. The center has always been recognized as a hub of American arts and culture, but now it may look completely different. The supporters of Trump may be enthusiastic about his ideas regarding the center, while others fear that such changes may harm the reputation of the Kennedy Center.
Most people are curious about how the Kennedy Center will shift under leadership by Trump. Some expect that it will return to emphasizing traditional American values, while others worry it will lose some of its diversity and artistic freedoms.
Conclusion
Trump’s decision to remove David Rubenstein and other board members at the Kennedy Center is part of his plan to reshape the arts and culture in America. By appointing himself as chairman and making new board appointments, he is sending a strong message about what he wants the center to focus on in the future. Whether these changes will succeed or cause problems for the Kennedy Center will only become clear in the coming months.
Indeed, the actions speak of a commitment to alter the cultural landscape of America, make the Kennedy Center an image of his own vision for the arts, and how that will unfold is something to watch closely as the situation develops.
