Trump’s takeover of the Kennedy Center prompts artists to cut ties with the institution

President Donald Trump took over as chairman of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts on Wednesday after initiating a major reshuffling of the board of trustees. The shake-up — which included the ousting of the center’s longtime president, Deborah Rutter — has led to major artists cutting ties with the institution and canceling their upcoming performances.

Actor Issa Rae announced on her Instagram story on Thursday that she has canceled her sold-out show, “An Evening With Issa Rae,” in March.

“Unfortunately, due to what I believe to be an infringement on the values of an institution that has faithfully celebrated artists of all backgrounds through all mediums, I’ve decided to cancel my appearance at this venue,” wrote Rae, the creator and star of HBO’s “Insecure,” adding that tickets will be refunded.

TV producer Shonda Rhimes has also resigned as the board’s treasurer. She later shared an article headline on Instagram that linked her resignation to Trump’s appointment as chairman.

Musician Ben Folds and opera singer Renée Fleming announced in separate statements this week that they are resigning as artistic advisers from the Kennedy Center. Fleming did not name Trump in her statement, but instead noted that she was leaving “out of respect” to Rutter and its longtime chairman David Rubenstein, whom Trump replaced.

Folds, on the other hand, pointed to “developments at the Kennedy Center” as his reason for his departure as as artistic adviser to the National Symphony Orchestra.

The Kennedy Center has historically been run by a bipartisan board of trustees. But Trump this week ousted Rubenstein, Rutter and members of the board who were appointed by President Joe Biden. He then swiftly installed loyalists in their place, including his White House chief of staff Susie Wiles and her mother, second lady Usha Vance, and spouses of some of Trump’s megadonors.

Critics say the president’s takeover of the Kennedy Center is an effort to seize control of a respected cultural institution whose honorees have shunned him in the past and to exert his influence on the arts. It also may be another opportunity for him to play up culture war issues that appeal to his base; Trump has falsely claimed that the Kennedy Center hosted drag shows “specifically targeting our youth“ last year, even though those shows were, in fact, aimed at adult audiences.