Curtain Call for Neutrality: Trump’s Chairmanship at Kennedy Center Provokes Pushback

On Wednesday Feb. 12, the Kennedy Center announced that President Donald Trump would become the Chairman of the Kennedy Center. 

Following Trump’s actions to rid the Kennedy Center of those appointed during the Biden administration, Trump released a social media post expressing his excitement regarding his new position “It is a Great Honor to be Chairman of The Kennedy Center, especially with this amazing Board of Trustees. We will make The Kennedy Center a very special and exciting place!”

Following Trump’s appointment as Chairman, “Hamilton” cancelled its run at the Kennedy Center, citing that the show was no longer compatible with the Kennedy Center due to “a new spirit of partnership.”

Concerns about the integrity of the Kennedy Center have been the topic of recent debates in Washington among those who enjoy the arts at the Kennedy Center.

Terry Werth has been attending the Kennedy Center for years, she shared her memories visiting with her sister over the past decades. Werth was looking forward to attending a performance of Hamilton at the Kennedy Center, but after recent cancellations, she will not have the chance.

Werth maintains hope that Hamilton will make it to DC reflecting on how other performances were rescheduled at other DC venues. “I think if the Hamilton crew could find another venue and sell out every night, it would be awesome, but I think that it shows that artists have the ability to influence the culture,” said Werth

“I don’t think that man has a cultural bone in his body” Werth said when reflecting on how the Kennedy Center has served as a major cultural institution in Washington.

Among many concerns about the future of the Kennedy Center, Werth expressed her interpretation of the mission of the Kennedy Center, and how she believes that Trump has politicized the institution “I believe that its mission has always been to support arts and culture in the broadest sense, and I think that the way this has gone down, it politicizes the institution, the performances, and the governing bodies,” said Werth.

Edelweiss Angelita is a part of online creative spaces focusing much of her writing on Broadway. Angelita recently wrote a piece for her Instagram page “broadelways” where she shares opinion pieces and all things theatre with her over 100k followers.

With ongoing conversations about the bipartisan structure of the Kennedy Center Angelita reflected on the Kennedy Center’s commitment as an institution that was established on the principles of inclusivity and bipartisanship. “The Kennedy Center was built as a nonpartisan institution that not only celebrates but respects the arts despite any political leanings. However, with Trump’s takeover and the decisions this new board has been implementing—censoring queer arts—he makes the Kennedy Center a partisan institution” Angelita said.

The Kennedy Center has seen many changes in leadership over the years, but Angelita suggests that this is a different change in leadership, one that the institution has not seen before. 

“Every leader that came before Trump respects the institution, the Arts, the history, and the legacy. A good leader has the ability to focus on achieving the institution’s mission—which is bigger than any one person. A good leader has the ability to utilize their resources: their vision, connections, ideas to advance the institution’s mission, bringing it closer to its goal than it was yesterday. Trump has no interest in being a leader” Angelita said.

She is, however, optimistic that the Kennedy Center will uphold its integrity during this time of change, “It’s got a strong foundation—I don’t think it’s the type to easily crumble. Too many people love it too much to let it happen without a fight” said Angelita when talking about the Kennedy Center as an institution and looking towards the future.

On Thursday night, Vice President JD Vance attended a concert at the Kennedy Center, as he made his way to his seat alongside his wife, Usha Vance, the crowd began to boo the couple.

This is the first appearance Vance has made at the Kennedy Center since Trump assumed his position as chairman. “This is an example of how we are seeing these things progress in real time” said American University student Peyton McGowan.