Former President Donald Trump has been elected chairman of the Kennedy Center's Board of Trustees, implementing significant changes to the prestigious cultural institution. The announcement came through his Truth Social platform, where he pledged to "make the Kennedy Center a very special and exciting place."

Immediate leadership changes include:

• Dismissal of 18 Biden-appointed board members
• Removal of former chairman David Rubenstein
• Removal of former president Deborah Rutter
• Appointment of Richard Grenell as interim executive director

Notable resignations following the changes:

• Shonda Rhimes (Treasurer, Obama appointee)
• Renée Fleming (Artistic Advisor)
• Ben Folds (National Symphony Orchestra Artistic Advisor)

The new board now includes:

• Susie Wiles (White House Chief of Staff)
• Dan Scavino (White House Deputy Chief of Staff)
• Pam Bondi (Attorney General)
• Usha Vance (Second Lady)

Impact on Programming:

• Issa Rae canceled her sold-out event "An Evening with Issa Rae"
• Trump announced an end to "drag shows and Anti-American propaganda"

The Kennedy Center, which hosts approximately 2,000 performances annually and receives 2 million visitors, faces a significant transition period under this new leadership structure. These changes represent one of the most substantial organizational shifts in the institution's history.

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