Trump unanimously elected chairman of Kennedy Center board

“It is a Great Honor to be Chairman of The Kennedy Center, especially with this amazing Board of Trustees. We will make The Kennedy Center a very special and exciting place,” the president said.

The vote followed Trump’s Friday announcement of a leadership overhaul at the institution, which included his appointment as chairman. On Monday, he named Ric Grenell to temporarily lead the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.

Trump posted on social media on Friday that he decided to terminate individuals on the board who “do not share our Vision for a Golden Age in Arts and Culture.”

“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 president said.

The board of trustees now consists of Trump appointees after the White House sent termination emails to board members appointed by President Joe Biden. Among those removed were former White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre and Evan Ryan, the wife of former Secretary of State Antony Blinken.

“So we took over the Kennedy Center. We didn’t like what they were showing and various other things,” Trump told reporters Monday, according to a report by the Washington Post. “But we have, I guess, a whole new group of people going in. … 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.”

Trump told reporters that some of the shows hosted by the center were “terrible” and a “disgrace.” Trump has also cited the Kennedy Center’s previous hosting of drag performances as one reason for the leadership shake-up.