The Kennedy Center kicked off June by continuing on their mission of offering family friendly content for visitors of all ages. The Washington, D.C.-based entertainment venue debuted the Angel Studios hit film, “The King of Kings,” on June 1.
“This animated film is the perfect family experience, and we are thrilled to bring a special viewing to the Kennedy Center,&#8221; Ambassador Richard Grenell, President of The John F. Kennedy Center, said in a <a href="https://www.angel.com/press/release/the-kennedy-center-to-host-free-screening-of-the-animated-film-the-king-of">press release</a>. “When I saw the advertising campaign for ‘The King of Kings,’ I immediately knew we needed to have it come to the Kennedy Center. Coincidentally, I was asked to be on a panel with the CEO of Angel Studios, so I cornered him. This is family-friendly programming that we will be doing more of in the future.”
Jordan Harmon, President of Angel distribution company, added, “The success of the film proves that when you give the audience the power to choose, they’ll elevate stories that matter and that will amplify light to families around the globe. The Kennedy Center has the pulse on art and entertainment that is impacting our culture, and to see this film celebrated there is a victory for faith, family, and the future of storytelling.”
Both shows were completely sold out and the on-site prayer wall was totally full, a rep from the Center confirmed with The Daily Wire. The theater included people of all ages and from all backgrounds applauding the animated film about the life of Jesus.
As of May 22, “The King of Kings” has grossed a total of $66.9 million worldwide, making it one of the most successful bible-based films in history.
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A synopsis of the film says, “A father tells his son the greatest story ever told, and what begins as a bedtime tale becomes a life-changing journey. Through vivid imagination, the boy walks alongside Jesus, witnessing His miracles, facing His trials, and understanding His ultimate sacrifice. The King of Kings invites us to rediscover the enduring power of hope, love, and redemption through the eyes of a child.”
Film critics and theatergoers were both effusive with their praise of the film. It currently has a 97% audience score on <a href="https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/the_king_of_kings">Rotten Tomatoes</a>.
Trump made headlines earlier this year when he promised to reform the Kennedy Center, which began when he replaced its board and was elected chairman. Trump also tapped Special Envoy Richard Grenell to serve as the Center’s president.
“At my direction, we are going to make the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., GREAT AGAIN,” Trump wrote in February. “Just last year, the Kennedy Center featured Drag Shows specifically targeting our youth — THIS WILL STOP.”

The King of Kings

The Kennedy Center Kicks Off June With Sold Out Showings Of ‘The King Of Kings’

The Kennedy Center Kicks Off June With Sold Out Showings Of 'The King Of Kings'

Entertainment

Movies

The Kennedy Center

U.S.

Washington D.C.

Three-time Tony Award-winner Broadway star Patti LuPone, famed for her roles in &#8220;Evita&#8221; and the revival of &#8220;Gypsy,&#8221; blasted the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C., whose management was expelled by President Trump, saying repeatedly that it “should get blown up.”
LuPone made her remarks in an <a href="https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2025/06/02/patti-lupone-profile">interview</a> with The New Yorker. In 2017, on the red carpet for the Tony Awards, she said she would never perform for President Trump. When she was asked why not, she answered, “Because I hate the mother***er, how’s that?”
<iframe loading="lazy" title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/KD8q1bqM-PI?si=P2VM_S_SOVY3QH5A" width="560" height="315" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe>
Trump fired the president and chairman of the board of the Kennedy Center in February, along with other board members who were appointed by former President Biden, and replaced them with others who named Trump as the chairman. Trump told the new board members that the previous board spent “tremendous amounts of money,” adding, “I don&#8217;t know where they spent it. They certainly didn&#8217;t spend it on wallpaper, carpet or painting.&#8221;
“He said previous ‘programming was out of control with rampant political propaganda’ and featured ‘some very inappropriate shows’ including a ‘Marxist anti-police performance’ and ‘Lesbian-only Shakespeare,’” ABC News reported.
“We have to do the big productions that the masses and the public want to see, we want to have really good programming,” Kennedy Center President Ric Grenell <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/politics/kennedy-center-shake-up-usher-golden-age-arts-under-trump-ric-grenell-previews">said</a> in February. “So the first thing that we’re doing … you’ve got to be at the Kennedy Center in December, because we are doing a big, huge celebration of the birth of Christ at Christmas. How crazy is it to think that we’re going to celebrate Christ at Christmas with a big traditional production to celebrate what we are all celebrating in the world during Christmastime, which is the birth of Christ.”
“The far left has morphed into violent extremists,” Grenell <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/media/broadway-star-patti-lupone-says-trump-led-kennedy-center-should-get-blown-up?intcmp=tw_fnc&amp;taid=68365459684c790001347e59&amp;utm_campaign=trueanthem&amp;utm_medium=social&amp;utm_source=twitter">said</a> in response to LuPone’s remarks. “This is completely unacceptable – from the same people who claim to be for tolerance and diversity. Everyone should condemn these radicals.”

Patti LuPone

Anti-Trump Broadway Star Calls For Kennedy Center To Be ‘Blown Up’

Celebrities

Donald Trump

President Donald Trump said he decided to run again after his 2020 defeat to “shove it up their a**” and reap the benefits of major events he scored for the United States during his first term.
Trump, who chairs the Kennedy Center board, spoke to the center’s board members during a dinner in the White House’s State Dining Room on Monday evening. During the speech, Trump touted some accomplishments from his first term: securing the Olympics for 2028 and the World Cup for 2026 in the United States.
“We got the Olympics and then we got through Gianni, he’s the boss, he’s a friend of mine, we got the World Cup, we got them both,” said the president. “I said, ‘Man, I won&#8217;t be president. I got the Olympics and the World Cup, and I won&#8217;t be president, and they&#8217;re gonna forget that I got them, nobody&#8217;s gonna mention it, because you know, a little bit, that&#8217;s the way life is.”
“And then, you know, they rigged the election,” he added. “And then I said, ‘You know what I&#8217;ll do? I&#8217;ll run again, and I&#8217;ll shove it up their a**.'&#8221;
The crowd burst into laughter and applause.
“I then realized,” Trump continued, “I got the Olympics, I got the World Cup, and I got the 250th. Look at the way this works out.”
“If they would have left us alone and wouldn&#8217;t have cheated on the election and wouldn&#8217;t have rigged it, I would have been retired right now. I would have been happily doing something else. And instead, they have me for four more years. Can you believe it?” the president said.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">
🚨TRUMP: &#8220;They rigged the election. I said &#8216;You know what I&#8217;ll do? I&#8217;ll run again and I&#8217;ll shove it up their ass.&#8221;<a href="https://t.co/V0hDh8Csgf">pic.twitter.com/V0hDh8Csgf</a>
— Autism Capital 🧩 (@AutismCapital) <a href="https://twitter.com/AutismCapital/status/1924648285962436781?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 20, 2025</a></blockquote>
Trump announced in February that he would serve as chairman of the board for the Kennedy Center after firing all of its previous board members. Trump has since replaced the board members with allies including Attorney General Pam Bondi, second lady Usha Vance, and singer Lee Greenwood.
The president installed Richard Grenell, who served in the first Trump administration as acting director of national intelligence, as president of the Kennedy Center. Grenell said on Monday that he would refer an investigation into the Kennedy Center’s finances to the Justice Department.
Investigators looked into the center’s finances for the past two years and “found $26 million in phantom revenue, fake revenue,” said Grenell, adding that what was found was “criminal,” according to <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2025/05/19/theater/trump-kennedy-center-season.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The New York Times</a>.
Trump and the new board have taken steps to overhaul the Kennedy Center’s programming, removing what the president has referred to as “woke” and “terrible” programming in the past. The moves have included scrapping a week’s worth of gay pride programming scheduled for the month of July.

Trump Explains Why He Decided To Run Again: To ‘Shove It Up Their A**’

Elections

Olympics

Politics

Wokeness is out and entertainment is in at The Kennedy Center. 
The Center’s lineup for the <a href="https://www.kennedy-center.org/">new season was just announced</a> as new staffers at the venue continue to make headlines for fighting back against progressive propaganda that’s been on the docket for years.
Now The Kennedy Center will feature a full lineup of music, drama, and dance that’s inspiring for all ages.
For younger fans, there are two world premiere productions as part of the season, including “The Sea Beyond the Ocean” and the Center’s first Theater for the Very Young commission, “Fishing for Stars,” an immersive non-verbal work for ages 2–6. 
There’s also a new play, “Young Dragon,” and a nostalgic throwback millennials are sure to recognize. The brand-new musical adventure “Fraggle Rock: Back to the Rock LIVE” presented by the Jim Henson Company debuts in 2026.
“This season brings students of all ages on inspiring journeys,” Jordan LaSalle, Vice President of Education, said of the new shows. “Featuring some of the most exciting companies from across the nation and world, each performance encourages the young and young-at-heart to unleash their imaginations. We are thrilled to continue our decades-long commitment to commissioning new works, including our first for our youngest of audiences and their families.”
In the realm of dance, the Center will showcase ballet and dance offerings from world-class companies and artists. As America nears its 250th anniversary, the 2025-26 season features programming that reflects the deep history of the nation plus fresh, modern interpretations. This includes some new shows plus returning favorites such as “The Nutcracker” from The Cincinnati Ballet.
The theater season also has new and award winning shows, per the press release.
“There is truly a great theater season of excitement and joy coming to the Kennedy Center,” said Senior Vice President of Artistic Programming and Executive Producer of Theater, Jeffrey Finn. “I couldn’t be more proud to feature a season filled with Best Musicals from Broadway, including three Tony®–winning original Best Musicals: ‘The Outsiders,’ ‘Moulin Rouge! The Musical,’ and ‘Spamalot.’”
Trump made headlines earlier this year when he promised to reform the Kennedy Center, which began when he replaced its board and was elected chairman. Trump also tapped Special Envoy Richard Grenell to serve as the Center’s president.
“At my direction, we are going to make the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., GREAT AGAIN,” Trump wrote in February. “Just last year, the Kennedy Center featured Drag Shows specifically targeting our youth — THIS WILL STOP.”
The changes the new board made led to full-scale meltdowns on the Left, including protests expressed through interpretive dancing.
According to a previous report published on The Daily Wire, the Kennedy Center is $40 million in debt and will be making major cuts to staff.
&#8220;The former leadership built a broken budget with an operating deficit of 100 million dollars and a bottom-line deficit of 26 million dollars,&#8221; CFO Donna Arduin said. &#8220;The former leadership led Board members to believe there was a balanced budget when there was $26 Million in false funds. Fiscal Year 25 budget was previously passed with $26M of fictitious funds. We have now truly balanced the budget.”
Besides their financial goals, the Center’s new leadership is focused on offering high-quality entertainment that’s free from radical progressive messaging.

New Kennedy Center Lineup Includes Family-Friendly Content, Zero Drag Shows For Kids

Culture

Dance

Music

Theater

The new acting director of The Kennedy Center has responded to reports that employees plan to unionize.
“These people who only now want to speak out and organize were silent while the Center was going into deficit spending,” Richard Grenell said in a statement on the situation, per <a href="https://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2025/05/15/you_should_be_celebrating_trump_kennedy_center_rolls_eyes_at_union_push__152798.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">RealClearPolitics</a>. “They missed their moment but should be celebrating now.”
His remarks come after multiple legacy news outlets reported on the unionization push. The Washington Post <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/entertainment/theater/2025/05/15/kennedy-center-union/">reported</a> that it spoke with Kennedy Center employees about their reasoning, who confirmed it was spurred by President Donald Trump taking control of the center and firing the entire board of trustees.
According to newly filed paperwork, the new union will be called the “Kennedy Center United Arts Workers,” and instead of having “at will” employment status, they will be “for cause.” This means instead of being able to be fired at any time for any reason, leadership will be required to prove a reason for any dismissals.
One union organizer told The Post, “Communication from leadership to staff has been reduced to emails that are few and far between,” and claimed they haven’t had any staff meetings.  
“This lack of transparency from leadership has really contributed to a culture of anxiety and uncertainty,” the unnamed person added.
During a visit to the center earlier this year, Trump commented on the state of the building, which first opened to the public in 1971. The president said it was in “tremendous disrepair, as is a lot of the rest of our country — most of it because of bad management,” per the <a href="https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/story/2025-03-17/trump-visits-kennedy-center-slams-hamilton">Los Angeles Times</a>. Trump also said he was “disappointed” but promised to “do what has to be done” to make things right again.
Trump’s Kennedy Center takeover and shakeup have caused big reactions from leftists. There have been protests, cancellations, and a general aura of doom and gloom, but the venue has been attracting record crowds despite the drama. The Kennedy Center just broke its all-time attendance record for a public event on March 29, welcoming 11,000 attendees, of whom 76% were there for the first time.
This comes after Trump also promised to scrub leftist programs from the Center’s lineup. “NO MORE DRAG SHOWS, OR OTHER ANTI-AMERICAN PROPAGANDA — ONLY THE BEST,” the president wrote on Truth Social in February.

U.S. Ambassador Grenell At Berlin 4th Of July

Kennedy Center Director Ric Grenell Says Staff Planning To Unionize ‘Should Be Celebrating’ Instead

Kennedy Center Director Reacts To Employees Plan To Unionize: 'You Should Be Celebrating'

General

Ric Grenell

Richard Grenell

Unions

The Kennedy Center just broke its all-time attendance record for a public event it hosted on March 29 despite a massive outcry and multiple protests staged by leftists who are upset that Donald Trump took it over after winning the presidency.
EARTH to SPACE: Arts Breaking the Sky fireworks show set a new mark when 11,000 people showed up to see it, per a <a href="https://dailycaller.com/2025/04/09/kennedy-center-donald-trump-ric-grenell-earth-space-arts-breaking-sky-festival-fireworks-attendance-record/">report</a> from the Daily Caller. 
A Kennedy Center representative mentioned that 76% of all attendees at the event were first-time visitors. It was open to the public and offered free first-come, first-serve tickets, with a special VIP experience available to the first 800 people who signed up to attend.
“It was wonderful to have so many new visitors at the Kennedy Center for Cai Guo-Qiang’s firework showcase. We look forward to their return for more wonderful programming soon. Everyone is welcome here!” Roma Daravi, VP of PR for the Kennedy Center, told the outlet. 
Trump made headlines earlier this year when he promised to reform the Kennedy Center, which began when he <a href="https://www.npr.org/2025/02/12/nx-s1-5294697/trump-kennedy-center-chairman">replaced</a> its board and was elected chairman. Trump also tapped Special Envoy Richard Grenell as the Center’s interim director.
“At my direction, we are going to make the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., GREAT AGAIN,” Trump wrote in February. “Just last year, the Kennedy Center featured Drag Shows specifically targeting our youth — THIS WILL STOP.”
The changes the new board made led to full-scale meltdowns on the Left, including protests expressed through <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/watch-protesters-plan-to-save-kennedy-center-with-interpretive-dance-yes-really">interpretive dancing</a>. 
According to a previous <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/exclusive-kennedy-center-is-40-million-in-debt-will-make-major-cuts">report</a> published on The Daily Wire, the Kennedy Center is $40 million in debt and will be making major cuts to staff. 
Kennedy Center Chief Financial Officer Donna Arduin emailed staff last month to reveal “the difficult reality of our current financial situation.”
“For years, the Kennedy Center has been budgeting to lose money. Instead of balancing our bottom line, we have spent all the funds that were raised on paying off part of The REACH debt, leaving us $40 million in debt with no cash to pay our bills,” she wrote in part.
REACH is a multipurpose space that includes rehearsal spaces, studios, and more, which President Donald Trump criticized while visiting the venue.

Kennedy Center Breaks All-Time Attendance Record After Lib Meltdown Over Trump

Social Issues

The Kennedy Center is $40 million in debt, and will soon begin “reducing expenses” to address its “difficult” financial situation, The Daily Wire has learned.
Kennedy Center Chief Financial Officer Donna Arduin emailed staff at noon Wednesday “in the spirit of transparency” to share “the difficult reality of our current financial situation.&#8221;
“For years, the Kennedy Center has been budgeting to lose money. Instead of balancing our bottom line, we have spent all the funds that were raised on paying off part of The REACH debt, leaving us $40 million in debt with no cash to pay our bills,” she wrote.
REACH is a multipurpose space that includes rehearsal spaces, studios, and more, which President Donald Trump criticized on a recent visit to the site.
“The road out of this economic environment will not be easy and the shift will be felt across the Center,” Arduin added.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
SCOOP: Kennedy Center’s newly-instated CFO just alerted the entire staff that it’s $40M in debt and has “no cash to pay our bills”
&#8220;The road out of this economic environment will not be easy and the shift will be felt across the Center&#8221;
Here&#8217;s the letter: <a href="https://t.co/fso3wovjaa">pic.twitter.com/fso3wovjaa</a>
— Daily Wire (@realDailyWire) <a href="https://twitter.com/realDailyWire/status/1904966366949494919?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 26, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> 
Trump has made it a priority to reform the Kennedy Center, <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/trump-dumps-kennedy-center-board-puts-immediate-end-to-drag-shows-for-kids" target="_blank" rel="noopener">firing</a> its board and installing himself as its chairman. Trump also tapped Special Envoy Rick Grenell to serve as the Center’s interim director.
“At my direction, we are going to make the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. , GREAT AGAIN,” Trump wrote in February. “Just last year, the Kennedy Center featured Drag Shows specifically targeting our youth — THIS WILL STOP.”
But Arduin’s letter makes it clear that the Kennedy Center’s largest problems have little to do with its repertoire.
“We have an operating deficit of over $100 million dollars,” she wrote to staff, “and are roughly $225 million dollars behind on capital maintenance needs, projects which are long overdue.”
Arduin notes that she and other Kennedy Center executives “are on a mission to turn this amazing performing arts center around.”
To get the Center out of the red, Grenell “has hired new Department leaders with lower salaries than those they replaced, including his salary which is dramatically lower than the previous President&#8217;s.”
The CFO also said that the Kennedy Center “will adopt business practices with performance goals to bring accountability to our patrons and philanthropists.”
“Therefore, we are reducing expenses enterprise-wide and will be using Key Performance Indicators to drive business decisions going forward.”
It is unclear exactly what cuts the Kennedy Center will make to rectify its financial situation. But the severity of Arduin’s letter, combined with the Trump administration’s dedication to reducing the scope of the federal workforce, could imply that layoffs are imminent.
Some have already begun. The Center on Tuesday laid off its five-member &#8220;social impact team,&#8221; the Washington Post <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/entertainment/2025/03/26/kennedy-center-social-impact-team-trump/?utm_medium=social&amp;utm_campaign=wp_main&amp;utm_source=twitter">reported.</a> The team&#8217;s mission was “to advance justice and equity” through Kennedy Center performances.
This is a developing story, refresh this page for updates.

Kennedy Center

EXCLUSIVE: Kennedy Center Is $40 Million In Debt, Will Make Major Cuts

Protesters have apparently determined that the most effective way to protest President Donald Trump’s changes at The Kennedy Center is by doing an interpretive dance around the building. Yes, really.
In a <a href="https://x.com/NicholasBallas/status/1892275231063933279">video</a> that surfaced on Wednesday on X, some 30-plus people all walked in a single-file line outside the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, moving in sync as they waved their arms up and down in the air like birds to music playing in the background.
At one point in the clip, the group stopped walking and began waving their arms in a circular motion. They then waved like a person would wave to a crowd, played an invisible violin, and then took a stance apparently like they would to defend themselves from being punched. 
Videos of the protest were all very strange and many people on social media caught wind of it and mocked the silliness of the performance protest.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Video of Democrats protesting the Trump administration at the Kennedy Center via interpretive dance. <a href="https://t.co/meT5Aj6bG3">pic.twitter.com/meT5Aj6bG3</a>
— Nick Ballas (@NicholasBallas) <a href="https://twitter.com/NicholasBallas/status/1892275231063933279?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 19, 2025</a></blockquote>
“BREAKING: Liberals are dancing and singing in protest to ‘save’ the Kennedy Center. Do these people have jobs?” one person wrote.
Another added, “HAHAHAHAHA libs are dancing at the Kennedy Center to protest the Trump takeover.”
While a third wrote, “LMAO. Liberals are protesting to ‘save’ The Kennedy Center.”
A fourth added, “NEW: Anti-Trump interpretative dance. Yes, seriously.”
One person even pointed out the line of buses that could be seen in the video and wrote, “Protestors at Kennedy Center are so CRINGE! BTW…..Who paid for those buses?&#8221;
One of the organizers of the protest, dancer and educator Kelly King, called The Nelken Line performance, “symbolic in that we&#8217;re moving in unison. And there&#8217;s something just compelling to see a straight line of movers dancing this way in a march,” <a href="https://www.npr.org/2025/02/18/nx-s1-5300155/trump-dance-performance-protest-kennedy-center-nelken-line">NPR</a> noted.
&#8220;They were unsure of what they were going to encounter with us,&#8221; she added about the security at the center. &#8220;And as I spoke to them individually and they saw what we were doing, they realized that we were certainly not a threat. And I think perhaps by the end they were entertained.&#8221;
King told the outlet that the group decided to protest due to concerns that after Trump’s takeover as chairman of the board, diversity like what was represented in their dance might not continue.
However, a spokesperson for the Kennedy Center said, &#8220;There have not been changes made to the Center&#8217;s dance programming nor are there any changes planned.&#8221; 
The protest comes after Trump’s announcement that he had terminated most members of the Board of Trustees at the Kennedy Center — including Chairman David Rubenstein — and had taken over the role himself, as previously reported.
Related: <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/actress-issa-rae-backs-out-of-performing-at-kennedy-center-after-trump-becomes-chair" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Actress Issa Rae Backs Out Of Performing At Kennedy Center After Trump Becomes Chair</a>

Donald Trump Hosts Hispanic Roundtable In Nevada

WATCH: Protesters Plan To ‘Save’ Kennedy Center With Interpretive Dance. Yes, Really.

WATCH: Protesters Plan To 'Save' Kennedy Center With Interpretive Dance. Yes, Really.

Democrats

Hollywood

Protest

Hollywood star Issa Rae has backed out of performing her one night show at The Kennedy Center after President Donald Trump became the chairman of the board.
“Thank you so much for selling out the Kennedy Center for ‘An Evening with Issa Rae,’” the 40-year-old actress wrote in her Instagram Stories about her March 16 show, per <a href="https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/lifestyle/arts/issa-rae-cancels-kennedy-center-appearance-1236136039/">The Hollywood Reporter</a>.
“Unfortunately, due to what I believe to be an infringement on the values of an institution that has faithfully celebrated artists of all backgrounds through all mediums, I’ve decided to cancel my appearance at this venue,” she added.
It comes after Trump’s announcement that he had terminated most members of the Board of Trustees at the Kennedy Center — including Chairman David Rubenstein — and had taken over the role himself, as previously reported.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Issa Rae has canceled her sold-out show at the Kennedy Center after Donald Trump installed himself as chair of the performing arts institution <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/THRNews?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#THRNews</a> <a href="https://t.co/soLbOA8HoI">pic.twitter.com/soLbOA8HoI</a>
— The Hollywood Reporter (@THR) <a href="https://twitter.com/THR/status/1890196759613452350?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 14, 2025</a></blockquote>
Earlier this week, producer-writer Shonda Rhimes announced she had resigned as treasurer from the Kennedy Center board because of Trump’s involvement.
“Please be advised that as of today, Shonda Rhimes has resigned from the board of the Kennedy Center,” a spokesperson for the 55-year-old writer-producer told <a href="https://deadline.com/2025/02/shonda-rhimes-kennedy-center-trump-1236287351/">Deadline</a> magazine.
Formerly appointed to the board by former President Barack Obama, Rhimes had been serving as one of its officers. Her resignation was followed by singer-songwriter and former frontman of Ben Folds Five, Ben Folds, who announced he also was out as artistic adviser to the National Symphony Orchestra (NSO) following the move by Trump, The <a href="https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/politics-news/ben-folds-resigns-nso-trump-1236134722/">Hollywood Reporter</a> noted.
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“Given the developments at the Kennedy Center, effective today I am resigning as artistic advisor to the NSO,” Folds wrote in a post on Instagram. “Not for me.”
The Kennedy Center oversees the NSO, as well as the Washington National Opera, THR noted.
The fallout continued, with actress Renee Fleming revealing a short time later she was out as artistic adviser at large, too, Deadline noted.
Trump made the announcement in a post to his social media platform Truth Social, and added that he also planned to make immediate changes to some of the events that were held there — beginning with drag shows that were intended for an audience of children.
Following the termination of Kennedy Center president Deborah Rutter, Ric Grenell, who is serving as interim president, announced on <a href="https://x.com/RichardGrenell/status/1889833504562675852">X</a> that he had been briefed “by the CFO of the Kennedy Center on its financial situation” and said it was dire.
“She told me there is ZERO cash on hand. And ZERO in reserves,” Grenell wrote. “And the deferred maintenance is a crisis. For the past months they’ve been digging into the DEBT RESERVES.”
The Daily Wire’s managing editor, Brent Scher, added on <a href="https://x.com/BrentScher/status/1889876532606411206">X</a>, “I’m told by a source inside the Kennedy Center that Grenell cut $2.4 MILLION (!!!) worth of executive salaries today. Its former president was making $1.4 million a year. Its general counsel was making over $500k. That’s absurd.”
Related: <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/shonda-rhimes-resigns-from-kennedy-center-board-after-trump-becomes-chair" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Shonda Rhimes Resigns From Kennedy Center Board After Trump Becomes Chair</a>

Issa Rae

Actress Issa Rae Backs Out Of Performing At Kennedy Center After Trump Becomes Chair

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