Trump to make himself head of top Washington cultural venue Kennedy Centre
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Mr Donald Trump broke the news in a post on his social media platform.
PHOTO: EPA-EFE
WASHINGTON - US President Donald Trump announced on Feb 7 he will name himself to be chairman of the Kennedy Centre, putting his aggressive right-wing stamp on Washington’s premier cultural venue.
Mr Trump broke the news in a post on his social media platform as he engages in a blizzard of policy changes upending the city and the country, attacking people, causes and policies he says are dangerously left wing.
In a way, this appointment is another form of retribution, which Mr Trump is seeking in his second term as he goes after perceived enemies: in his first term, from 2017 to 2021, the Republican regularly skipped the centre’s yearly gala event because people in line to receive awards criticised him and said they would not show up if he did.
In his post, Mr Trump suggested that the Kennedy Centre, the stately white marble entertainment complex overlooking the Potomac River and named for the late president John F. Kennedy, offered entertainment that did not reflect his own values.
Several members of the board will be replaced, including the current chairman, the billionaire philanthropist David Rubenstein, Mr Trump wrote.
“I have decided to immediately terminate multiple individuals from the Board of Trustees, including the Chairman, who do not share our Vision for a Golden Age in Arts and Culture. We will soon announce a new Board, with an amazing Chairman, DONALD J. TRUMP!” the President said on Truth Social.
“Just last year, the Kennedy Centre featured Drag Shows specifically targeting our youth – THIS WILL STOP. The Kennedy Centre is an American Jewel, and must reflect the brightest STARS on its stage from all across our Nation. For the Kennedy Centre, THE BEST IS YET TO COME!” Mr Trump said.
Mr Trump did not say what show he was referring to.
In December, the centre hosted concerts by a band called Bertha that featured some of its musicians dressed in drag.
The Kennedy Centre is the home of the National Symphony Orchestra and also offers theatre, opera, comedy and other productions.
Mr Rubenstein served as an adviser to the late president Jimmy Carter and also has ties to former president Joe Biden, who regularly attended the venue’s top gala, the Kennedy Centre Honours, every year. AFP
