Former first lady Jacqueline Kennedy served as an honorary chairman of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, initially proposed by President Eisenhower in 1959 as an “artistic mecca.” Recently, former President Trump announced he would be taking over as chairman and terminating multiple individuals from the board, including David Rubenstein, who he claimed did not share his vision for the center. Trump criticized the Kennedy Center for featuring Drag Shows, and expressed his desire for the center to showcase the brightest stars from across the nation.
While Trump has not publicly spoken out against drag, he has taken steps to restrict transgender rights, including blocking transgender student athletes from playing women’s sports and unveiling an executive order that could affect transgender athletes participating in the 2028 Olympics. Rubenstein, who had served as chairman since 2010, was allegedly terminated by Trump, despite a previous announcement of his retirement in 2025 to lead the Kennedy Center Foundation.
The Kennedy Center, described as a living memorial to President Kennedy, hosts over 2,000 performances annually and is home to the National Symphony Orchestra and Washington National Opera. The center attracts millions of visitors each year, showcasing a wide range of artistic talent. Despite Trump’s recent actions, the Kennedy Center remains committed to promoting arts and culture on a national scale.
