Consider This from NPR
Ousted Kennedy Center president says artists must feel "welcome and safe"
Fri, 14 Feb 2025
President Donald Trump is now chairman of The Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C. Trump replaced 18 members of the board with allies who then elected him into the position. There is no precedent for this move – most presidents have been hands-off with the cultural center since it opened in 1971 – including President Trump himself during his first term. Already, artists affiliated with the center have departed and performers are canceling shows. For a decade, Deborah Rutter served as President of the Kennedy Center. This week, she was ousted from that position. In her first interview since then, she speaks with NPR's Mary Louise Kelly about the abrupt end to her tenure.For sponsor-free episodes of Consider This, sign up for Consider This+ via Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org. Email us at [email protected] more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy
Chapter 1: What changes did Donald Trump make at the Kennedy Center?
President Donald Trump is now chairman of the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C. Prior to taking the helm, he told reporters he was doing it because Kennedy Center shows were, quote, terrible and a disgrace. He also admits that he has never been to a show at the Kennedy Center.
I'm going to be chairman of it, and we're going to make sure that it's good and it's not going to be woke.
True to his word, he ousted 18 members of the Kennedy Center board, replaced them with his own supporters. On Wednesday, the new board elected Trump chairman.
So we took over the Kennedy Center. We didn't like what they were showing and various other things.
There is no precedent for this move. Most presidents have been hands-off with the Cultural Center since it opened in 1971. That includes President Trump himself during his first term. Now he seems all-in, posting on Truth Social that, at his direction, quote, we're going to make the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. great again.
There's no more woke in this country. This woke has cost us a fortune and cost us our reputation.
Already, artists affiliated with the center have departed, and performers are canceling shows. Writer, director and actor Issa Rae canceled her upcoming sold-out show at the center, citing an infringement on the values of the institution. Consider this. The Kennedy Center hosts more than 2,000 performances that play to 2 million patrons every year.
The Kennedy Center
It's Consider This from NPR. For a decade, Deborah Rutter served as president of the Kennedy Center. This week, she was ousted from that position. In her first interview since, she came to our studios to talk about the abrupt end to her tenure. Deborah Rutter, welcome. Thank you so much.
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Chapter 2: Why is Donald Trump concerned about the Kennedy Center shows?
The statute establishes that a 36-member board and a 21-member member ex officio board guide the operations of the Kennedy Center and those three peers of our mission. Those 36 are appointed by the president of the United States to serve for a six-year term.
It is silent on whether or not the president can remove them, and it is absolutely clear in our bylaws that the board elects the chairman of the board. So it is unprecedented for the Kennedy Center to have the president of the United States as a member of the board. And it is, therefore, unprecedented that the board would elect that individual to be chair of the board.
Unprecedented, not necessarily illegal or... I can't speak to that, but that is what the statute and our bylaws call for.
I mean, just to cut to the chase, it's been, what, two days since you were ousted. How are you thinking about things?
I'm really, really, really sad about what happens to our artists, what happens on our stages, and our staff who support them. The Kennedy Center is meant to be a beacon for us. the arts in all of America, across the country.
And we have worked so hard and accomplished so much over this last decade to really broaden the programming, to invite all manner of arts and artists to our stages, and we've expanded our audience as a result. I pray that that can be sustained, but that's my biggest concern.
Yeah, you used the word sad just now. Why sad? What is it that is giving you pause?
So people who choose to make their career in the arts do so because they care so deeply about what it represents. Artists are holding a mirror up to the society. They tell the stories of who we are. When you have really smart people, they often want to go into another business that might make them more money or more prestige, whatever that might be.
These are people who are so dedicated to the mission and to really the desire to tell the stories of who we are as Americans. So this is mission-driven work. And when you are deeply committed to the mission, that's where you have these emotions.
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