“Grey’s Anatomy” creator Shonda Rhimes and singer-songwriter Ben Folds are among the first to flee their positions at the Kennedy Center after President Trump installed himself as chairman of the board and started to clean house.
The Shondaland CEO, 55, resigned as treasurer of the board on Wednesday shortly after Trump was elected head of DC’s iconic John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, she confirmed in a post on Instagram.
Folds also announced that he’d quit his role as artistic adviser to the National Symphony Orchestra, a position he had held since he was appointed in 2017.
“Given developments at the Kennedy Center, effective today I am resigning as artistic advisor to the NSO,” the Ben Folds Five frontman, 58, posted on social media.
“Not for me,” he added. “Mostly, and above all, I will miss the musicians of our nation’s symphony orchestra — just the best.”
Grammy Award-winning opera legend Renée Fleming followed suit, announcing her resignation from her role as artistic adviser at large.
“I’ve treasured the bi-partisan support for this institution as a beacon of America at our best,” the 65-year-old soprano said in a statement. “I hope the Kennedy Center continues to flourish and serve the passionate and diverse audience in our nation’s capital and across the country.”
Trump said Wednesday he had decided to clear out the Kennedy Center’s board of trustees members “who do not share our Vision for a Golden Age in Arts and Culture” — and installed himself as chairman.
“We will soon announce a new Board, with an amazing Chairman, DONALD J. TRUMP!” he posted on Truth Social Wednesday night.
Trump has criticized the Washington institution for previously hosting drag shows “targeting” children.
Earlier in the week, Trump told reporters he wants to see the center running “properly.”
“We don’t need woke at the Kennedy Center. Some of the shows were terrible. They were a disgrace that they were even put on,” he said. “So I’ll be there until such time as it gets to be running right.”
His administration officially removed 18 board members, including board chairman David M. Rubenstein, a close ally of former President Joe Biden, according to Entertainment Weekly.
Fourteen new Kennedy Center board members were announced Wednesday including Trump’s chief of staff Susie Wiles, Vice President JD Vance’s wife, Usha Vance, and former aide Dan Scavino, among other allies.
He was elected chairman by his newly minted board.
Deborah F. Rutter, who had served as the institution’s third president since 2014, was also sacked. She had previously announced her plan to step down at the end of 2025.
Richard Grenell, Trump’s former ambassador to Germany, has been appointed as interim president. Grenell, Trump’s special presidential envoy for special missions, became the first openly gay man to serve in a cabinet-level position when Trump appointed him acting director of national intelligence in 2020.
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