Trump reshapes Kennedy Center by axing board to eliminate drag events

In early 2025, Donald Trump initiated significant changes to the governance of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, DC. This move followed his criticism of performances like a 'Drag Brunch' and 'Divas' show that featured men lip-synching to female artists. Trump aimed to establish a 'new golden age in arts and culture' by taking on the role of chairman himself and reshaping the center's board composition. The Kennedy Center has been integral to American arts since its establishment in 1958, serving both as a memorial to John F. Kennedy and a prominent venue for cultural performances across theatre, music, and dance. However, Trump's intervention marked a pivotal shift, as he sought to transition the center's performances away from what he described as 'woke culture' in favor of productions that would resonate with a more traditional audience. The board of the Kennedy Center voted unanimously to elect Trump as its new chairman, and subsequent changes included the ousting of Deborah Rutter, the president since 2014. Trump promised greater representation on the board, appointing officials from his administration and key supporters, which dramatically altered the leadership landscape of the center. Some performances catering to diverse themes, which could be seen as contentious or divisive, faced scrutiny under Trump's approach. In conjunction with these leadership changes, there were indications that certain content on the Kennedy Center's website and in its programming would be revised or removed. This included references to the center's acknowledgement of the traditional land it occupies. Trump's strained previous relationship with the Kennedy Center, notably his withdrawal from the Kennedy Center Honors in 2017, set the stage for these controversial changes which aimed to unify the audience but sparked concerns regarding the representation of diverse artistic expressions.