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Ben Folds on taking a stand for artistic freedom after Trump's Kennedy Center takeover

Ben Folds resigned after President Trump's replacement of Kennedy Center board members sparked a partisan shift, causing ticket sales to plummet and artists to withdraw, critics said.

Summary by PBS NewsHour
Ben Folds’ piano-powered pop music earned him a cult following and made him one of the most respected songwriters of his generation. He also held an influential role in classical music as artistic advisor to the National Symphony Orchestra. Folds resigned after President Trump’s takeover of the Kennedy Center. Amna Nawaz spoke with him for our series, Art in Action, as part of our CANVAS coverage.

4 Articles

Donald Trump turned the Washington Kennedy Center, so far a symbol of cultural neutrality, into a bastion of conservatism and trumpist patriotism. Since his takeover in February, he has replaced members of the board of directors with his relatives and removed performances celebrating diversity, such as drag shows and events related to the month of pride. The Centre now hosts political conferences carried by the far right, where anti-Woke and pro…

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PBS NewsHour broke the news in Washington, United States on Thursday, October 30, 2025.
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