Broadway legend Patti LuPone has sharply criticized President Donald Trump’s influence over the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, calling for the facility to be ‘blown up’ in an interview with the New Yorker. Her remarks come amid a larger controversy surrounding the administration’s recent reshuffle of the center’s leadership, which has sparked intense debate within the arts community.
Trump’s decision to remove several board members, including the center’s president and chairman, and replace them with pro-Trump figures has been met with significant backlash. In February, Trump appointed himself chairman of the Kennedy Center, stating that his leadership would usher in a ‘Golden Age’ for American arts and culture. However, this move has been widely viewed as a political tool to align the institution with his administration’s agenda.
The changes have led to a wave of resignations and cancellations of events at the center, with many artists and performers expressing their disapproval of Trump’s influence. The center’s leadership has also been accused of removing events that challenge traditional narratives, including LGBTQ+ pride events, in an effort to align with the administration’s priorities.
LuPone, who has been a vocal critic of Trump’s policies for years, has consistently expressed her frustration with the administration’s impact on the cultural landscape. She recently told the New Yorker that she wished the Trump administration would ‘leave New York alone.’ Her comments reflect a broader concern among artists and cultural leaders about the growing politicization of the arts and its potential consequences.
The controversy has also drawn attention from other prominent figures in the arts community. John Lithgow, an actor and former Kennedy Center board member, has called Trump’s return to power the ‘biggest disaster for the arts since the coronavirus pandemic.’ Meanwhile, Richard Grenell, the president of the Kennedy Center, has condemned LuPone’s remarks, accusing her of supporting ‘violent extremists’ who claim to be for tolerance and diversity.
Despite the backlash, the Trump administration maintains its stance, with White House deputy press secretary Anna Kelly stating that the president cares deeply about American arts and culture and is revitalizing the center to its ‘former greatness.’ However, critics argue that this vision is more about political alignment than genuine cultural enrichment.