President announces removal of Kennedy Center trustees and self-appointment as chairman, citing drag performances

Personnel actionEOP

Date
Actor
President Donald J. Trump (via Truth Social)
Agency
Executive Office of the President (EOP)
Type
Personnel action
Section
SUPPLEMENT: THE KENNEDY CENTER TAKEOVER IS ABSENT FROM THE CULTURAL-INSTITUTIONS RECORD, THOUGH THE SMITHSONIAN, NEA, NEH, IMLS, AND NPS ACTIONS ARE ALL COVERED

Summary

Announces that the President will terminate multiple members of the Kennedy Center Board of Trustees and install himself as chairman of the board. The stated rationale is programmatic and viewpoint-specific: the post asserts that "Just last year, the Kennedy Center featured Drag Shows specifically targeting our youth — THIS WILL STOP," and that under new leadership there will be "NO MORE DRAG SHOWS, OR OTHER ANTI-AMERICAN PROPAGANDA — ONLY THE BEST." Reporting identified the performance the President referred to as a 2024 family program by drag performer Tara Hoot involving bubbles, story reading, and lip-synced show tunes.

Status

Carried out. The board purge and chairmanship followed on February 10–12, 2025. The stated drag rationale has been repeatedly cited by organizers and litigants as evidence of viewpoint motivation.

As recorded in the data of . Check the sources for anything newer.

Sources