Shonda Rhimes is stepping down from her position on the Kennedy Center board.
Deadline reports that the award-winning producer had served as treasurer of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, which exposes art to 2 million annual visitors and is guided by a mission to promote a “culture of inclusiveness,” according to its website. The center has served 1.4 million students and offers education and outreach programs throughout the United States and in 29 countries.
Now, the center’s leadership, which contributed to its direction and impact, will shift in response to Trump becoming more involved. He previously shared on Friday, Feb. 7, 2024, his intentions to become its chairman and stated that he would remove board members as part of his plan to pursue “a golden age in arts and culture,” the Los Angeles Times reports. This resulted in 18 board members being removed from the roster on the center’s website by Feb. 10, including chairman, David Rubenstein. Most of the ousted board members had been appointed by former President Joe Biden.
Given Trump’s recent executive moves — such as signing an executive order to dismantle diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives and expressing a desire to eliminate the Department of Education — it is likely that concerns about the center’s future contributed to Rhimes’ decision.
Two days after the 18 members were removed, Trump’s allies elected him as chairman, according the Los Angeles Times.
“It is a Great Honor to be Chairman of The Kennedy Center, especially with this amazing Board of Trustees. We will make The Kennedy Center a very special and exciting place,” Trump said on Truth Social, according to the Los Angeles Times.
Trump’s allies also made the decision to vote out the center’s president Deborah F. Rutter, and now Richard Grenell has become the interim executive director.
“No more drag shows, or other anti-American propaganda — only the best. Ric, welcome to show business,” Trump commented.
Rutter expressed, per The Washington Post:
“I hope I’m not saying goodbye as a friend and colleague to all of you, but I am leaving now. And I just want us to keep these ideals that we wear in our lanyard central to the work that we do. And they are from JFK and his family. They were the ones that confirmed them and added one. So let’s remember: courage, justice, freedom, service and gratitude.”
Musician Ben Folds (artistic adviser of the National Symphony Orchestra) is also no longer affiliated with the Kennedy Center in light of changes in leadership, and opera star Renée Fleming (artistic adviser at large for the center) announced her intentions to exit as well.
