The United States of America is about one month into Donald Trump’s presidency, and headlines have been taken over by the multitude of executive orders he has signed into law thus far. While a large portion of the orders are unprecedented, many are unsurprising (since they were the basis of his presidential campaign). However, there are many more decisions that the public has not seen coming. One of Trump’s most unpredictable actions has been his decision to dismantle the Board of the John. F. Kennedy Center for Performing Arts in Washington, D.C.
The Kennedy Center has a long history, starting in 1933, when First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt wanted to establish job opportunities for unemployed actors during the Great Depression. The theater later evolved to become the Nation Cultural Center. After a few decades, in 1958, President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed the “National Cultural Center Act,” which marked the first time in history the federal government provided financial support for a performing arts venue. Most importantly, the act banned all forms of discrimination in the Center. Finally, in 1964, after the assassination of President John F. Kennedy, the Center was renamed in his honor. Today, the Center holds over 2,000 performances annually in its seven concert venues and is regarded as one of the most influential performing arts venues in the country. The Center consistently hosts some of the best artists in the industry, with some mentions including Beyonce, Elton John, and Led Zeppelin.
Donald Trump’s tumultuous relationship with the Center stems back to his first presidential term. In 2017, he and First Lady Melania Trump’s absence marked the first time neither the president nor the first lady attended the Kennedy Center Honors, an annual awards ceremony where significant contributors and figures in America’s performing arts industry are presented with honors for their work. In January 2025, President Deborah Rutter and Chairman David M. Rubenstein of the Kennedy Center Board had both publicly announced their intentions to resign from their positions in the upcoming year; however, Trump had other plans. On February 12, 2025, Trump removed Rutter and Rubenstein from the Board, alongside all other members who had been appointed by former President Joe Biden, and was unanimously chosen by the Board as the Center’s new chair. Typically, according to a statement released by the Kennedy Center’s Board, “per the Center’s governance established by Congress in 1958, the Chair of the Board of Trustees is appointed by the Center’s Board members.” The Center’s Board has historically been run by a bipartisan team of 36 members; however, it is now made up entirely of Trump’s appointees. While there is no legal boundary stopping Trump’s decision, it would be the first time in the Center’s history of bipartisan boards that such an action would be taken.
Trump’s intentions with the Kennedy Center particularly targets the LGBTQ+ community, claiming that he wants to change the “woke” agenda of the Center. Trump publicly stated “we don’t need woke at the Kennedy Center…some of the shows were terrible. They were a disgrace that they were even put on.” On the app Truth Social, he further posted a statement saying, “NO MORE DRAG SHOWS, OR OTHER ANTI-AMERICAN PROPAGANDA However, the anti-LGBTQ nature of his decision is nothing new, since it was a significant portion of his campaign for reelection as President in his race against former Vice President Kamala Harris.
The Kennedy Center has historically been a place of inclusivity and representation of federal support for the arts, regardless of identity. Therefore, while Trump’s actions remain legal, public responses to his actions have not remained positive. Issa Rae, an actress and producer, recently cancelled her sold-out show. A statement from Rae, to followers on her Instagram story, read:
“Unfortunately, due to what I believe to be an infringement on the values of an institution that has faithfully celebrated artists of all backgrounds through all mediums, I’ve decided to cancel my appearance at this venue.”
Rae is not alone in her actions. Rock Band Low Cut Connie similarly cancelled their appearance, saying that even though they were “very excited to perform as part of this wonderful institution's Social Impact series, which emphasizes community, joy, justice and equity through the art…[u]pon learning that this institution, [which] has run non-partisan for 54 years, is now chaired by President Trump himself and his regime, [they] decided [they] will not perform there.” Shonda Rhimes, an incredibly accomplished screenwriter who had been appointed as the Treasurer of the Board of the Kennedy Center by former President Barack Obama, resigned from her position in response to the incident.
The future of the Kennedy Center, as well as the rest of Donald Trump’s presidency, seems unclear at the moment. With under a week of chairman-ship under his belt, there is no telling what actions he will proceed to take regarding the Center, if any. In his first term, President Trump influenced the most divided partisanship the country has seen since its establishment, with 86 percent of Republicans approving of his accomplishments in comparison to only 6 percent of Democrats. Furthermore, he became the first president to suggest eliminating the National Endowment for the Arts, though the proposal never materialized. Thus, it will likely follow that this presidency will continue to shake the performing arts industry across the United States of America, an impact that might be felt for years after Trump’s departure.