Early last year, President Trump moved quickly to take control of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, transforming a traditionally nonpartisan cultural institution into one that is now closely aligned with his administration.
On Feb. 7, 2025, Trump posted on Truth Social that he was "immediately terminat[ing] multiple individuals from the Board of Trustees" who did not share his "vision for a Golden Age in Arts and Culture." Within days, Trump moved to remove Biden-era appointees, and the board replaced chair David Rubenstein with Trump.
These moves set the stage for Trump to further put his mark on the venue. By the end of the year, with the board now stacked with Trump allies including lobbyist-fundraiser Brian Ballard and Fox News host Laura Ingraham, the trustees voted unanimously on Dec. 18 to formally add Trump's name. The institution was rebranded as The Donald J. Trump and The John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts, and new signage incorporating Trump's name appeared on the building the next day.
As these leadership and branding changes were taking shape throughout 2025, companies from defense contractors to tech giants and law firms became new donors to the center, while other companies that had given in the past began disclosing their donations on federal lobbying filings last year after linking their gifts to Trump and top White House officials.
