President Trump Terminated Most Of The Kennedy Center Board
In a bold move that signals a dramatic shift in the cultural and political landscape of Washington, President Donald Trump announced on Friday that he had terminated multiple members of the Kennedy Center’s Board of Trustees, including longtime Chairman David Rubenstein. And in classic Trump fashion, he made it clear that he would be taking the reins himself.
The announcement, made via a post on Truth Social, underscored Trump’s vision for restoring what he calls a “Golden Age in Arts and Culture”—one that does not, as he put it, include “drag shows specifically targeting our youth.” Effective immediately, Trump declared, the Kennedy Center will return to its roots as “an American jewel” that showcases “the brightest STARS on its stage from all across our Nation.”
And just like that, the Kennedy Center, a prestigious institution that had become increasingly entangled in progressive politics, is now under new management.
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) February 7, 2025
The decision to remove Rubenstein and his fellow trustees follows years of conservative frustration over the Kennedy Center’s programming choices, which critics have argued reflect a leftward cultural drift rather than a celebration of American artistic excellence. Trump made it clear that such trends will not continue on his watch.
“We will soon announce a new Board, with an amazing Chairman, Donald J. Trump,” he declared.
The Kennedy Center has long been a staple of elite Washington culture, hosting everything from star-studded galas to politically charged performances. Under Rubenstein, a billionaire philanthropist with deep ties to the D.C. establishment, the institution increasingly showcased progressive themes, culminating in controversial programming choices that outraged many conservatives. Trump’s move to take direct control of the institution represents not just a reshuffling of personnel but a broader push to reclaim cultural institutions that many on the right feel have been overtaken by left-wing ideology.
And if that weren’t enough of a power play for one day, Trump also used the occasion to announce that he had revoked former President Joe Biden’s security clearance—citing Special Counsel Robert Hur’s findings that Biden suffers from “poor memory” and “even in his ‘prime,’ could not be trusted with sensitive information.”
Trump’s statement left no room for ambiguity: “I will always protect our National Security—JOE, YOU’RE FIRED.”
The timing of these announcements is unmistakable. At a moment when Trump is consolidating power and shaping his second-term agenda, he is making it clear that he is not merely interested in political battles—he is taking the fight to the cultural institutions that shape America’s values.
For years, conservatives have watched as legacy institutions—from Hollywood to higher education—drifted further from traditional American ideals. With the Kennedy Center now under his direct oversight, Trump is sending a message: these institutions will no longer be left to the cultural left uncontested.