Trump posted to Truth Social on February 7 sharing the decision to appoint himself as chairman of the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, citing drag shows as a big reason why.
“Just last year, the Kennedy Center featured Drag Shows specifically targeting our youth — THIS WILL STOP,” the president went on to say. “The Kennedy Center is an American Jewel and must reflect the brightest STARS on its stage from all across our Nation. For the Kennedy Center, THE BEST IS YET TO COME!”
The shows he is referring to were a part of last year's events like Broadway Drag Brunch, Dancing Queens Drag Brunch, and A Drag Salute to Divas. The cultural center appears to have also hosted an event called Dragtastic Dress-Up, featuring a drag story hour.
In addition to Trump's takeover, he also says he will “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.”
In a statement issued Friday, the Kennedy Center reported no “official communications from the White House regarding changes to our board of trustees,” though it did confirm that some board members had “received termination notices from the administration.”
They also confirmed that Trump’s actions “would be the first time such action has been taken with the Kennedy Center’s board.
Some of these members included White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre, award-winning musician Jon Batiste, and billionaire philanthropist David Rubenstein.
“The Kennedy Center has been a place of tremendous joy for me and my family for many years,” Jean-Pierre wrote.
“I love everything about this remarkable institution and will always hold many precious memories close to my heart. It was an honor to be appointed and to be on the board. I’ll be fine. But we all must continue the work to ensure that the arts and humanities remain a core fabric of our society and culture.”
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