President Donald Trump reportedly recently announced the appointment of Fox News hosts Maria Bartiromo and Laura Ingraham to the board of trustees at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.
This decision follows Trump’s earlier move to dismiss much of the existing board and to appoint himself as chair.
In a statement on his Truth Social account, Trump expressed enthusiasm about the new appointments, indicating that this completes the selection process for the board.
He emphasized his vision of restoring the Kennedy Center’s prominence and ushering in what he termed “America’s Golden Age,” with a slogan of making the arts great again.
“I am thrilled to announce that Laura Ingraham and Maria Bartiromo will be joining our Kennedy Center Board – This completes our selection. We look forward to restoring the Center to Greatness, and ushering in America’s Golden Age. Together, we will Make the Arts Great Again!” Trump wrote.
Bartiromo and Ingraham join a board that has seen significant changes, including the addition of other notable figures such as Allison Lutnick, the wife of Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, and Usha Vance, wife of Vice President JD Vance.
The board also includes Trump allies like Attorney General Pam Bondi and Elaine Chao.
The announcement comes in the wake of controversy surrounding the Kennedy Center’s programming and leadership changes.
Jeffrey Seller, the producer of the musical “Hamilton,” recently criticized the center for abandoning its bipartisan spirit, citing the recent firings of key staff members and the cancellation of important events as detrimental to the institution’s integrity.
With these appointments, Trump aims to reshape the Kennedy Center’s direction, aligning it more closely with his administration’s values.
However, this shift has sparked concerns about increasing partisanship within a cultural institution that has traditionally strived for neutrality.
The impact of these changes on the Kennedy Center’s programming and community relations remains to be seen.
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