President Donald Trump is slated to attend a board meeting at the Kennedy Center, one of the country’s premier cultural institutions. The meeting is scheduled for Monday, according to two sources well-acquainted with the planning who spoke to CBS News. The event’s organizers have decided to host the meeting onstage at the venue’s opera house.
A source informed CBS News, “‘Riverdance’ loaded out tonight, so they’re onstage tomorrow.” This decision to hold the meeting on the opera house stage will inevitably come with associated costs. Among these expenses are stage crew overtime and a considerable amount of security. As the same source noted, “There is a ton of security, associated stagehand costs. They’ve changed the plan about five times in three days, so lots of extra work.”
The Kennedy Center, currently grappling with financial issues, is an institution that depends significantly on funds from Congress, ticket sales, fundraising, and other sources. Ric Grenell, the interim director in February, took to Twitter to announce that the organization had “zero cash on hand.” Congress contributes to approximately 16% of its operating budget, which translates to about $45 million. The remaining funds are sourced from ticket sales, fundraising efforts, and other sources.
The White House and the Kennedy Center’s spokespeople did not respond to requests for comments regarding the upcoming board meeting.
In a remarkable turn of events in February, Mr. Trump dissolved the Kennedy Center’s board of directors and appointed himself as the chairman. The newly formed board now includes political allies such as Susie Wiles, White House chief of staff, Dan Scavino, a longtime senior Trump aide, second lady Usha Vance, and Fox News host Laura Ingraham.
According to the records at the Kennedy Center, no other president in the venue’s 54 years of existence has ever made such a drastic overhaul to the board. This move by Mr. Trump is indeed unprecedented.
In his capacity as the chairman of the board, Mr. Trump has expressed his intention to influence the venue’s programming. He has publicly stated his opposition to “Drag Shows specifically targeting our youth” and has shown a clear intention to move away from what multiple sources previously told CBS News he views as “woke culture.”
Mr. Trump’s takeover of the board in February has sparked considerable controversy and protest. Several artists have shown their disapproval by canceling their upcoming performances at the Kennedy Center. Among them are actor and producer Issa Rae and the team behind the hit Broadway musical “Hamilton.”
Adding to the tension, footage emerged last week on social media showing audience members booing Vice President JD Vance at a National Symphony Orchestra performance at the Kennedy Center.
In conclusion, President Trump’s upcoming visit to the Kennedy Center for a board meeting is set against a backdrop of financial struggles, controversy, and political maneuvering. His influence on the center’s programming and his unprecedented overhaul of the board has sparked a widespread backlash from artists and audiences alike. As the Kennedy Center navigates these challenges, the world watches with bated breath to see how the institution will evolve under Mr. Trump’s leadership.
This news article was written by Ed O’Keefe, a senior White House and political correspondent for CBS News. O’Keefe has previously worked for The Washington Post, where he covered presidential campaigns, Congress, and federal agencies. His primary focus is on President Biden, Vice President Harris, and political issues across the country. His extensive experience and insight into political affairs lend a unique perspective to his reporting.
