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By Gabe Whisnant
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President Donald Trump on Monday outlined plans to revamp artistic programming at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, emphasizing a focus on Broadway hits.
"We are going to have some really good shows," he told reporters ahead of a board meeting, adding, "The thing that does well are Broadway hits."
His remarks come as several artists and productions, including the acclaimed musical "Hamilton," have backed out of performances in protest of Trump's leadership. Dismissing the criticism, Trump remarked, "I was never a big fan, I never liked 'Hamilton' very much."
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Newsweek has emailed the Kennedy Center on Monday night for comment.
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Why It Matters
Donald Trump has long expressed admiration for classic Broadway musicals, notably "Les Misérables" and "The Phantom of the Opera."
During his 2016 presidential campaign, he made a theatrical entrance at a Miami rally by walking out to "Do You Hear the People Sing?" from "Les Misérables," with a backdrop labeled "Les Deplorables"—a play on Hillary Clinton's "basket of deplorables" remark.
Trump's affinity for "The Phantom of the Opera" is also evident. He frequently includes songs from the musical in the playlists at his political rallies.
What To Know
Allies of the Republican president have criticized the Kennedy Center, known for its annual celebration of prominent American artists, arguing that its programming has become overly liberal and "woke."
The visit marked Trump's first time at the Kennedy Center since reshaping its leadership at the start of his second term. He fired the previous board, claiming they "do not share our Vision for a Golden Age in Arts and Culture," and replaced them with loyalists, including White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles, Attorney General Pam Bondi, and Usha Vance, the wife of Vice President JD Vance.
Now serving as chairman, Trump criticized the center's recent expansion, The Reach, for its lack of windows and suggested closing the additional spaces. He also expressed concerns over high staging costs, noting that musician Lee Greenwood wanted to perform at the meeting, but it would have cost $30,000 just to "move a piano."
Speaking to reporters ahead of the board meeting on Monday, Trump lamented the center's "tremendous disrepair," emphasizing its significance as "a very important part of D.C. and actually our country."
Perched along the banks of the Potomac River, the Kennedy Center has been a cultural landmark since its opening in 1971, enjoying bipartisan support over the decades.
However, Trump's relationship with the institution has been tense since his first term, as he notably skipped the annual honors ceremony every year he was in office.
Last week, clips of Vice President JD Vance getting booed as he took his seat at a National Symphony Orchestra concert at the Kennedy Center went viral.
What People Are Saying
President Donald Trump wrote on Truth Social on February 7: "At my direction, we are going to make the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., GREAT AGAIN. I have decided to immediately terminate multiple individuals from the Board of Trustees, including the Chairman, who do not share our Vision for a Golden Age in Arts and Culture."
He added: "The Kennedy Center is an American Jewel, and must reflect the brightest STARS on its stage from all across our Nation. For the Kennedy Center, THE BEST IS YET TO COME!"
Kennedy Center interim director Richard Grenell posted on X after the "Hamilton" announcement: "Let's be clear on the facts. Seller and Lin-Manuel Miranda first went to The New York Times before they came to the Kennedy Center with their announcement that they can't be in the same room with Republicans. This is a publicity stunt that will backfire. The arts are for everyone—not just for the people who Lin likes and agrees with. The American people need to know that Lin-Manuel Miranda is intolerant of people who don't agree with him politically. It's clear he and Seller don't want Republicans going to their shows. Americans see you, Lin."
What Happens Next
The National Symphony Orchestra has a performance scheduled on Thursday night, marking the Kennedy Center's next event.
Update: 3/17/25, 5:21 p.m. ET: This article has been updated with additional information and remarks.
Update: 3/17/25, 7:03 p.m. ET: This article has been updated with additional information and remarks.
Reporting by the Associated Press contributed to this story.
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