In August 2017, drama unfolded when producer Norman Lear chose to skip a White House reception for his Kennedy Center Honors award. Another honoree, dancer Carmen de Lavallade, also withdrew after President Trump made controversial comments about a white supremacist rally in Charlottesville, Virginia.
During Trump’s term, he canceled the White House reception and ignored the Kennedy Center ceremony. Recently, he made headlines by removing Biden’s appointees from the Kennedy Center’s board and appointing himself as the new chairman.
This shift raises questions about how a showman like Trump will handle a cultural institution that plays a key role in Washington’s arts scene. Stephen Bannon, a close Trump advisor, suggested featuring the J6 Prison Choir, composed of individuals pardoned by Trump, at a future event. There’s even talk of emulating Hungary’s Prime Minister Viktor Orban, who invested heavily in state-endorsed art.
In Washington, the mood is mixed. The Kennedy Center, known for hosting over 2,000 events each year ranging from grand opera to family-friendly shows like “Sesame Street: The Musical,” is likely to head in a different direction. With country singer Lee Greenwood, a Trump supporter, now on the board, it’s expected that we’ll see more country music events as we approach the 250th anniversary of the United States in 2026.
Whatever happens next, it’s undeniable that Trump’s influence is affecting a significant part of Washington’s cultural landscape.
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Source linkUnited States Politics and Government,Theater,Culture (Arts),Kennedy Center Honors,Kennedy, John F, Center for the Performing Arts,Grenell, Richard,Rubenstein, David M,Trump, Donald J,Rutter, Deborah F
