Consider This from NPR
Ousted Kennedy Center president says artists must feel "welcome and safe"
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
Full Episode
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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