Sign the Petition: Stop the Political Takeover of the Kennedy Center!]
MoveOn
(December 19, 2025) — Donald Trump’s handpicked board of the historic Kennedy Center just voted to rename the institution to “Trump-Kennedy Center.” And any opposition to renaming the Center was literally silenced.1 “This was not consensus. This is censorship,” said Representative Joyce Beatty, who said the vote was not on the meeting agenda and that she was literally muted when she tried to voice concerns.2
Let’s be clear: The John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts—called Kennedy Center for short— does not belong to Trump or any single president. It’s for us, the people. For decades, the Kennedy Center has served as a national cultural institution, authorized by the National Cultural Center Act of 1958, that is, in part, federally funded and aims to make a range of arts and performance more accessible.
But since in office, Trump has repeatedly eroded the integrity of the institution, attempting to censor its programming, appointing his friends and cronies to the board, and turning it into yet another partisan vehicle for advancing his own political agenda. And now, the board is abusing their position to aggrandize and memorialize Trump as if he is a king.
The Kennedy Center Board does not have the authority to rename the center — that power lies with Congress.3 But this administration is known for disregarding the Constitution, law, and precedent. So it’s no surprise that they are flagrantly disregarding the processes in place—processes meant to safeguard against these very circumstances.
The Kennedy Center is only as strong as the public that supports it. The donors who fund it. The individuals who buy tickets and attend events. The performers who grace the stage. It’s up to us to leverage our power as a community to preserve the Kennedy Center as a place for artistic expression and freedom—without limits or political motives. And we must send a clear message to the board, the Trump administration, and Congress that we, the people, will not sit quietly and watch as the Kennedy Center is remade in Trump’s image.
ACTION: Will you join the more than 56,000 MoveOn members who have signed the petition opposing the Trump administration’s takeover of the Kennedy Center? SIGN HERE.
Thanks for all you do.
–The team at Qommittee
P.S. See our email below from earlier this year about how Trump’s takeover of the Kennedy Center impacts performers like us, and why it’s critical we fight back.
Sources:
- “Ohio Dem on Kennedy Center board call says she was muted: Renaming ‘was not unanimous,'”The Hill, December 18, 2025
- Ibid.
- “Hakeem Jeffries says renaming of Kennedy Center is illegal,” The Hill, December 18, 2025
SIGN: Protect Free Expression! Stop the
Political Takeover of the Kennedy Center!
Dear MoveOn member,
The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts is the nation’s stage and belongs to all Americans. It’s the place where our commitment to free speech for all people should be on full display. President Trump’s unprecedented decision to fire board members over drag and “anti-American” performances threatens not just drag art but the fundamental promise that our national cultural institutions reflect the full diversity and creativity of our nation.4 That’s why Qommittee is joining forces with MoveOn to push back.
Donald Trump has never even seen a performance at the Kennedy Center. But that didn’t stop him from declaring himself chairman.5 All because, out of thousands of performances every year, the Kennedy Center also hosts drag shows and brunches. This is not only political theater meant to distract the public from Trump’s otherwise unpopular barrage of orders and directives—it’s censorship, plain and simple.
Drag is a beautiful and joyful form of self-expression that has brought people together and built community for centuries. Qommittee is a national network of drag performers—and the people who support them—fighting back against the increase in threats, attacks, and violence facing drag communities across the country. We won’t let them silence or erase us.
Our national cultural institutions should be free from any political interference that targets specific art forms or communities. When the government starts banning certain types of performances from our stages, it sets a dangerous precedent for all artistic expression.
All of our stories deserve to be told on America’s stage! Help SAVE the Kennedy Center from Trump’s extreme and unprecedented control.
The Kennedy Center has long celebrated America’s diverse cultural heritage. Targeting board members over drag performances sends a chilling message about who gets to create art and whose stories deserve to be told.
Americans don’t have to agree on everything, but our right to freedom of expression means we deserve to perform our art without bans, retaliation, or intimidation.
We’re demanding that the board of the Kennedy Center publicly commit to protecting the artistic independence of the Center, providing programming that reflects America’s full diversity, and implementing policies that will prevent Trump’s political interference in artistic decision-making.
Trump’s takeover of the Kennedy Center puts an unnecessary target on our communities, stoking anti-drag hate and making us all less safe. And for what purpose? The things that Americans actually need—cheaper everyday items, affordable housing and health care, and a sense of safety—will not be impacted by specific performances that happen at the Kennedy Center.
But the freedoms of everyday Americans will be impacted. We should all be concerned when the government begins to silence and censor art.
Making this a priority in his first month as president sends a chilling message to artists, performers, and creators from not only the LGBTQIA+ community but all marginalized voices. And it gives the White House dangerous control over what kind of art is created, shared, and experienced.
If we let Trump assume control over the Kennedy Center, what will he turn to next? We don’t want to find out.
Thanks for all you do.
–Blaq Dinamyte and the team at Qommittee
Sources:
- “Drag group slams Donald Trump for takeover of Kennedy Center board and vowing to end drag shows,”The Advocate, February 10, 2025
https://www.advocate.com/politics/trump-kennedy-center-drag-ban - “‘I get reports’ | Trump says he has never seen a Kennedy Center performance after vowing to name himself chair,” WUSA 9, February 10, 2025
https://www.wusa9.com/article/news/politics/president-donald-trump-super-bowl-new-orleans-kennedy-center-david-rubenstein/65-bdc4f1de-11eb-47a1-bbe6-331cc290dc00
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