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President Donald Trump says he has fired multiple members of the board at the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C. and will soon install himself as chair.
In a post on Truth Social Friday, Trump said he had removed the chairman, billionaire philanthropist David Rubenstein, saying he did not “share our vision for a Golden Age in Arts and Culture,” citing drag shows reportedly held at the performing arts venue.
“At my direction, we are going to make the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C., GREAT AGAIN. I have decided to immediately terminate multiple individuals from the Board of Trustees, including the Chairman, who do not share our Vision for a Golden Age in Arts and Culture. We will soon announce a new Board, with an amazing Chairman, DONALD J. TRUMP!,” the post reads.
The board of trustees lists Shonda Rhimes as treasurer, as well as businessman Anthony Welters as vice chair and Deborah Rutter as president.
Rubenstein is co-founder of the private equity firm the Carlyle Group. The Kennedy Center did not immediately respond to a request for comment on who else was impacted.
An article in The Atlantic earlier Friday foreshadowed the move.
Presidents appoint members for six-year terms to the board, which currently includes Trump’s Attorney General Pam Bondi, Brian Ballard and singer Lee Greenwood, both of home have Trump ties, former White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre, Mike Donilon, an advisor to Biden, and Democratic consultant Stephanie Cutter.
First ladies, including Melania Trump, Dr. Jill Biden, Michelle Obama, Laura Bush and Hillary Rodham Clinton serve as honorary chairs.
Trump did not attend a Kennedy Center gala event during his first term, amid disapproval from the artists.