President Trump has assumed leadership of the Kennedy Center as Chairman of the Board of Trustees, implementing significant organizational changes at the prestigious Washington D.C. venue.

The former president announced his unanimous election on Truth Social, promising to "make the Kennedy Center a very special and exciting place." Following his appointment, Trump dismissed 18 Biden-appointed board members, including former chairman David Rubenstein and former president Deborah Rutter.

Richard Grenell has been appointed as interim executive director, with Trump stating there would be "no more drag shows or other Anti-American propaganda—only the best."

Several high-profile resignations followed these changes:

• Shonda Rhimes, Obama-appointed treasurer
• Renée Fleming, artistic advisor
• Ben Folds, artistic advisor to the National Symphony Orchestra

The new board includes:

• Susie Wiles (White House chief of staff)
• Dan Scavino (White House deputy chief of staff)
• Pam Bondi (Attorney General)
• Usha Vance (Second Lady)

In response to these changes, actress and producer Issa Rae canceled her sold-out event "An Evening with Issa Rae," citing concerns about the institution's values. The Kennedy Center, which typically hosts approximately 2,000 performances and welcomes 2 million visitors annually, continues to operate amid these significant organizational changes.

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