WASHINGTON (AP) 鈥 President Donald Trump on Monday visited the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, where he took a tour and chaired a meeting of its board of directors.
It was his first time at the marquee arts institution since at the start of his second term in office. of the Kennedy Center, writing on social media that they 鈥渄o not share our Vision for a Golden Age in Arts and Culture.鈥 He replaced them with loyalists, including White House chief of staff Susie Wiles, Attorney General Pam Bondi and Usha Vance, the wife of Vice President JD Vance, and installed himself as chairman.
The Republican president's allies have complained that the Kennedy Center, which is known for its annual celebration of notable American artists, had become too liberal and 鈥渨oke鈥 with its programming.
Trump complained of 鈥渢remendous disrepair鈥 Monday speaking to reporters ahead of the board meeting, saying the center 鈥渞epresents a very important part of D.C. and actually our country.鈥 He expressed displeasure with the recent expansion of the complex, known as 鈥淭he Reach," which features studios, rehearsal spaces and meeting facilities, suggesting he would move to close up the spaces because they lack windows.
Trump also discussed plans to 鈥渋mprove very greatly鈥 the Kennedy Center and its upcoming artistic programming.
鈥淲e are going to have some really good shows," he said, adding, 鈥淭he thing that does well are Broadway hits.鈥
Several artists and productions, including Broadway smash 鈥淗amilton,鈥 have backed out of performances at the Kennedy Center in protest of the Trump takeover. 鈥淚 was never a big fan, I never liked 鈥楬amilton鈥 very much,鈥 Trump said in response.
Trump also complained about staging costs at the center, saying musician Lee Greenwood wanted to perform Monday at the first board meeting he chaired, but it would cost $30,000 to 鈥渕ove a piano.鈥
The Kennedy Center, which sits on the banks of the Potomac River, opened in 1971 and has enjoyed bipartisan support over the years.
However, Trump has a fraught relationship with it, dating to his first term as president. the annual honors ceremony each year he was in the White House. Trump posed for photos in the Opera House's president's box behind the presidential seal Monday.
