Trump Seeks Direct Role in Selecting Kennedy Center Honorees

Having appointed himself chairman of the center, Trump is lobbying for greater input in choosing the artists nominated for the honors 

The Kennedy Center has undergone sweeping changes since the U.S. President Trump installed himself as the center’s Chair. Trump appointed Richard Grenell as president and recently completed his board appointments with Fox News host Laura Ingraham and Fox Business anchor Maria Bartiromo.

According to The New York Times, Trump is now seeking to gain more influence in the selection of the prestigious Kennedy Center honorees at an upcoming meeting, when proposed changes to the honors advisory committee are set for discussion. 

Presented annually since 1978 and as a live and televised gala, the Kennedy Center Honors recognizes artists for a lifetime of cultural achievement and their contributions to American cultural life. 

In the meeting agenda viewed by NYT, the resolution states that members of the committee responsible for selecting honorees “shall be appointed by the chairman of the board, and shall serve at the pleasure of the chairman,” which will see Trump able to select the committee members who help decide on the list of honorees that must be approved by him. 

In the past, Kennedy Center officials selected the committee members responsible for proposing honorees after receiving recommendations from former honorees, the board, the arts community, and the general public. 

Chaired by the philanthropist David C. Bohnett, the 2024 committee included board members plus Kennedy Center officials and artists, including Gloria Estefan, Sally Field, Renée Fleming, Herbie Hancock, Judith Jamison, Lionel Richie, and John Williams.

Overall, the Kennedy Center has seen multiple changes in its board and programming, eliciting responses from many in the industry.

It has recently canceled a number of planned performances, including the Gay Men's Chorus of Washington and the children's musical Finn.

According to Grenell, “the financial situation at the Kennedy Center is a serious problem that has been hidden from the public for too long, and so Donald Trump is committed to putting the Kennedy Center on a solid financial foundation by having programming that appeals to everyone, not just a few.”

In protest, many artists including Rhiannon Giddens and Issa Rae have withdrawn their performances at the venue. Further, Lin-Manuel Miranda and Jeffrey Seller chose to withdraw performances of their musical Hamilton, which were planned for this year. 

Prominent figures in the music industry including conductors Marin Alsop and Leonard Slatkin have  commented publicly on policy changes at the center.

Recently, Vice President JD Vance and the second lady, Usha Vance (also appointed to the board by Trump) were loudly booed while attending a concert featuring violinist Leonidas Kavakos and the National Symphony Orchestra — a resident ensemble of the Kennedy Center.