US EditionInside Trump’s transformation of the Kennedy Center
Trump installed loyalists, secured $257 million for renovations, and reshaped programming and fundraising at the Kennedy Center, drawing criticism and artist withdrawals.
- The Kennedy Center, led by Trump as board chair, is staging Honors earlier this year and is convening trustees in Palm Beach, Florida, on December 18.
- The administration secured $257 million congressional funding for Kennedy Center programming renovations while promoting a `Vision for a Golden Age in Arts and Culture` that is `not going to be woke`.
- Richard Grenell, Kennedy Center president, has overhauled staff, ousted former chairman David Rubenstein, mandated a `break-even policy`, and raised $131 million despite cuts to the development team.
- High-Profile resignations and cancellations have thinned the center's roster, with Issa Rae, Renée Fleming, Shonda Rhimes, and Alvin Ailey refusing to return while Broadway tours choose other venues; The Nutcracker sold 10,000 seats versus around 15,000 previously, missing its $1.5 million revenue goal.
- Heightened congressional scrutiny follows reports of lucrative events at the Kennedy Center, with Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, according to Whitehouse, claiming it serves as a `slush fund and private club` while the FIFA World Cup draw displaced arts programming, costing over $5 million but generating $7.4 million.
21 Articles
21 Articles
Ticket sales plummet at Kennedy Center amid Trump’s takeover: ‘Costs are huge!’
Ticket sales for the Kennedy Center’s annual performance of “The Nutcracker” have plummeted under the new leadership of President Donald Trump, who took over as the organization’s chairman earlier this year, CNN reported Saturday.According to internal sales data obtained and reviewed by CNN, ticket ...
Trump-Led Kennedy Center Smashes Fundraising Record
The Kennedy Center reported a record-shattering fundraising surge under President Trump’s leadership, nearly doubling the organization’s haul compared to the Biden era and marking the strongest financial performance in its history. The cultural institution brought in more than $23 million in 2024, a dramatic rebound that executives attribute to renewed donor confidence, expanded programming, and the emphasis on patriotic American arts initiative…
‘Looks Like a Foreign Flag’: Staff Mock Trump’s Bizarre MAGA Kennedy Center Makeover
Staffers at the Kennedy Center are quietly laughing at Donald Trump’s latest attempt to slap MAGA branding on one of America’s most iconic cultural landmarks. Their favorite joke? That the building now “looks like a foreign flag.” The Washington Post reports the center’s exterior is bathed in red, white, and blue—but the particular shades have staffers whispering that it resembles France more than the U.S. The same palette also belongs to the Ne…
The Washington Post
Donald Trump’s Kennedy Center is showier, emptier and more political
EXCLUSIVE: Trump-led Kennedy Center nearly doubles fundraising from Biden era, smashing record with $23M haul
The Kennedy Center Honors raised a record $23 million for its 48th annual celebration, nearly doubling last year's total under President Donald Trump's leadership.
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