Trump Speaks At New Kennedy Center, Vows To End ‘Woke’ Performances
President Donald Trump has moved swiftly to reshape the Kennedy Center, taking direct control of its board and vowing to eliminate the leftist influence that has dominated its programming in recent years. Touring the facility for the first time since installing his own appointees, Trump made it clear that changes are coming.
During his visit, Trump criticized the state of the building and its management, calling it a reflection of the broader problems facing the country. “I’m very disappointed when I look around,” he said, pointing out expensive but unused underground spaces. “The bottom line: It has tremendous potential, and we’ll work with Congress to fix it.”
🚨 JUST IN: Trump is at the Kennedy Center for the board meeting and a tour. He is totally overhauling it.
He says they wanted to charge Lee Greenwood $30,000 just to sing there. Trump also says he is going to get with Speaker Johnson to fix its architecture.
"We're here to… pic.twitter.com/n3jGPcIHSV
— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) March 17, 2025
Trump fired several board members in February and appointed a new team, including Fox News hosts Laura Ingraham and Maria Bartiromo, along with country singer Lee Greenwood. He also tapped Richard Grenell to serve as interim executive director, charging him with overhauling the center’s artistic direction.
Leftists in the entertainment industry have reacted with outrage. Issa Rae and Lin-Manuel Miranda canceled scheduled performances, and drag performers staged protests after Trump ended their events. Vice President J.D. Vance and his family were booed during a recent visit, showing the hostility of the cultural elite toward the administration’s vision for the arts.
Trump is de nieuwe baas van het Kennedy Center in Washington DC, het nationale centrum voor uitvoerende kunst.
Natuurlijk wil hij het gaan verbouwen zodat het meer lijkt op zijn Mar-a-Lago. MT en bestuur bestaat nu uit MAGA.
Ondertussen lopen artiesten, donoren en publiek weg. https://t.co/YLAl6yBSG1— Walter van der Cruijsen (@wltrrr) March 18, 2025
Grenell has already announced plans for a major Christmas celebration at the center, making it clear that traditional American values will be at the forefront. “We will not allow the Kennedy Center to be an intolerant place,” he stated.
Trump also took aim at the high costs and bureaucracy surrounding the center’s operations. He noted that it would have cost $30,000 to move a piano for Greenwood to perform a song, blaming excessive union rules for the bloated expenses.
Despite leftist pushback, Trump remains committed to restoring the Kennedy Center as a place for all Americans, free from the political agenda that has dominated its programming.