Trump’s Kennedy Center Overhaul Cuts Ticket Sales by 50%
Following a presidential overhaul of its board, including the appointment of Donald Trump as chairman and the dismissal of president Deborah F. Rutter, the Kennedy Center experienced a dramatic 50% week-over-week drop in ticket sales. This downturn coincided with the cancellation of several performances, including a children’s musical and a concert by the Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington, D.C., actions attributed to a fight against “woke” culture. The upheaval also prompted high-profile resignations from the board and withdrawals from scheduled performers, such as Issa Rae and Louise Penny. The White House defended the changes, claiming the Kennedy Center’s previous direction led to financial losses.
John Q. Hosedrinker