'I never liked 'Hamilton' very much,' President Trump says in visit to Kennedy Center
WASHINGTON − President Donald Trump promised to transform the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts during a visit Monday to the iconic cultural institution, where he presided over a board meeting after ousting the center's leadership last month and naming himself board chairman.
"We'll make it great again," Trump said during the stop, which included a tour of the facility. "I'm very disappointed when I look around. The bottom line: It has tremendous potential."
Trump's visit came after some acts ‒ including actress Issa Rae and the Broadway hit "Hamilton" ‒ canceled upcoming performances at the Kennedy Center in Washington in response to Trump's takeover.
"I never liked 'Hamilton' very much," Trump said. "But we are going to have some really good shows."
Trump has complained of "woke" programming at the Kennedy Center. He cited "drag shows" held there as one of the reasons for taking command of the center, vowing to stop such performances.
Trump recently named top ally Ric Grenell as the Kennedy Center's president. Grenell, who also is Trump's envoy for special missions, said in a social media post last month that the Kennedy Center has "zero cash on hand" and "zero in reserves," pledging to "fix this great institution."
Trump said the the center has declined under "bad management" and characterized its recent $250 million expansion project as a waste. "They built these two rooms that no one's going to use," he said, describing underutilized space in the basement. He also criticized the materials used on the Kennedy Center's outside columns, adding that he intends to bring the center "into more modern times."
"A lot of money has been given to it, and the money has not been properly spent," Trump said.
Trump said "Broadway hits" at the Kennedy Center have performed well, highlighting the center's upcoming showings of Les Misérables. He said he hoped to have country singer Lee Greenwood ‒ whose song "God Bless the USA" is a Trump favorite ‒ sing to the board during his visit, but he was told it would cost $30,000 to accommodate moving a piano.
"You can't have that. We're going to fix it up," Trump said.
The Kennedy Center, which opened in 1971 in honor of the late 35th president of the United States, serves as the nation's arts and cultural center, offering a wide assortment of concerts, plays and other live acts to paying customers. Trump declined to attend the annual Kennedy Center Honors performances during his first term.
About 16% of the Kennedy's Center annual $268 million budget comes from the federal government. The New York Times reported the center took in about $141 million in private contributions and grants in the fiscal year that ended in September 2023.
"This represents a very important part of D.C., and actually our country," Trump said, also touting his calls to reduce crime in Washington. "I've been hearing for a long time that they come here, and they're very disappointed when they come here. We want them to be excited."
During a surprise visit to the Kennedy Center last week to watch the National Symphony Orchestra, Vice President JD Vance was booed loudly by other patrons after he arrived in his balcony seat with his wife, Usha Vance.
Grenell responded to video of Vance's reception in a post on X: "It troubles me to see that so many in the audience appear to be white and intolerant of diverse political views. Diversity is our strength. We must do better. We must welcome EVERYONE. We will not allow the Kennedy Center to be an intolerant place."
In addition to installing himself as the center's new leader, Trump also named several aides and other allies to the center's board of trustees, including White House chief of staff Susie Wiles, deputy chief of staff Dan Scavino, Attorney General Pam Bondi, Usha Vance, Greenwood, Fox News personality Laura Ingraham, and Sergio Gor, director of Trump's personnel office.
Reach Joey Garrison on X @joeygarrison.