 "US President Donald Trump waves as he arrives on the South Lawn at the White House in Washington, US, February 2, 2025. File Image/Reuters")
On Friday (February 8), US President Donald Trump vowed to make the Kennedy Center in Washington DC great again.
The Republican leader fired several board members of the centre and appointed himself as the chairman in an “amazing” development.
The president said current chair David Rubenstein “do not share [the same] Vision for a Golden Age in Arts and Culture.”
Notably, Rubenstein is a billionaire philanthropist with ties to former President Carter and Joe Biden.
The US leader said a new board will be announced soon, which will work to revive what he called “the American jewel”.
“At my direction, we are going to make the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C., GREAT AGAIN,” the President wrote. “For the Kennedy Center, THE BEST IS YET TO COME!”
Trump denounces drag shows
Trump also alleged that the centre was “targeting” the country’s youth by hosting drag shows.
“Just last year, the Kennedy Center featured Drag Shows specifically targeting our youth — THIS WILL STOP,” Trump wrote in his Truth Social post.
The centre last year had hosted a drag show at its Roof Terrace Restaurant which consisted of “most fabulous drag performers,” according to its website. The event featured 2024 Capital Pride Honoree, Tula, and other drag performers “representing the diversity of D.C.’s queer community,” said the website of the centre.
Trump said the centre was an “American jewel” and must represent the country’s “brightest stars”.
Kennedy Center’s website disrupted
Soon after Trump made the announcement, the centre’s website said it had limited the number of its users citing “high traffic”.
The centre said Friday it had not received any direction from the White House about the said move.
Impact Shorts
More ShortsIn a statement, Kennedy Center stressed a historically “collaborative relationship with every presidential administration.”
“We have received no official communications from the White House regarding changes to our board of trustees. We are aware that some members of our board have received termination notices from the administration,” the statement added.
(With inputs from agencies)