President Donald Trump has announced the appointment of Ric Grenell as the Interim Executive Director of The Kennedy Center. Grenell, a longtime confidant of Trump, will be overseeing the daily operations of the institution on a temporary basis. This decision comes after Trump declared himself as the chairman of The Kennedy Center last week.
In a statement on Truth Social, Trump expressed his pleasure in naming Grenell to the position, emphasizing their shared vision for a 'GOLDEN AGE of American Arts and Culture.' Trump also highlighted that under Grenell's leadership, the focus will be on promoting the best of American arts and culture, with a clear stance against what he referred to as 'anti-American propaganda.'
Trump's move to dismiss the existing board of The Kennedy Center and appoint himself as chairman was made public on Friday. By Monday, the center's website had removed the list of previous board members. One of the immediate tasks of the board was to find a replacement for the outgoing president, Deborah Rutter, who recently announced her decision to step down. The board had engaged a headhunting firm to assist in the search for a new leader.
Prior to his new role at The Kennedy Center, Grenell was serving as Trump's envoy for special missions. He has been actively involved in diplomatic efforts, including meetings with leaders in Venezuela to address issues such as the release of detained Americans. Grenell has also represented the Trump administration in California, particularly in response to the wildfires in Los Angeles.
