President Donald Trumptook to Truth Social on Friday to announce his decision to “immediately terminate multiple individuals” from the Kennedy Center’s Board of Trustees, including chairman David Rubenstein, whom he will be replacing in the role. The status of specific board members, including treasurer Shonda Rhimes, is unclear at this time, though the several members previously appointed by Trump—including Attorney General Pam Bondi—will presumably escape unscathed. Explaining his decision, Trump cited the fact that the board members did not share his “vision for a Golden Age in arts and culture‚" offering the D.C.-based center’s decision to host “drag shows specifically targeting our youth” as an example. The center has hosted multiple drag brunches and revues in the past, although it is unclear how many, if any, of these events specifically targeted children. Trump ended his post with a declaration that, “The Kennedy Center is an American Jewel, and must reflect the brightest STARS on its stage from all across our Nation,” adding that for the center, “the best is yet to come.”
