Trump promises to revamp the Kennedy Center during his first visit as board chair

BY COMFORT OGBONNA

According to reports, U.S. President Donald Trump made his first visit to the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts on Monday since taking over as its chairman. During his visit, Trump expressed concerns about the center’s physical state, describing it as being in “tremendous disrepair.” He also threatened to shut down a new addition to the center, which he criticized for lacking windows.

Trump’s visit demonstrated his takeover of the institution, which has historically enjoyed bipartisan support in Washington. As a former real estate executive, Trump suggested that the center would improve physically over time and encouraged people to attend shows there.

In a statement, Trump emphasized the importance of the Kennedy Center, saying it represents a significant part of D.C. and the country. “I think it’s important to make sure that our country is in good shape and is represented well,” he added.

Last month, Trump became chairman of the Kennedy Center after pushing out billionaire philanthropist David Rubenstein. He also fired the center’s longtime president, Deborah Rutter, and installed his former ambassador to Germany, Richard Grenell, as interim president.

Before the board meeting, portraits of Trump, his wife Melania, Vice President JD Vance, and his wife Usha were hung in the Kennedy Center’s Hall of Nations. The institution is considered a living memorial to slain former President John F. Kennedy.

Trump’s changes at the Kennedy Center have sparked controversy, with some artists canceling engagements in protest. The musical “Hamilton” pulled out of a scheduled performance next year, with its producer criticizing Trump’s actions as contradictory to the center’s values.

Grenell responded by calling the decision “a publicity stunt that will backfire” and criticizing the show’s creator, Lin-Manuel Miranda. “The Arts are for everyone – not just for the people who Lin likes and agrees with,” Grenell said. Trump also expressed his dislike for “Hamilton,” stating that he never liked the musical very much.