# Trump is Made Chair of the Kennedy Center **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Tags:** trump\ **Created:** [February 12, 2025, 9:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-is-made-chair-of-the-kennedy-center/1014248 "2025-02-12T21:55:09Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmer_j.fudd/32/1211_2.png) [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elmer_J.Fudd)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2025, 9:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-is-made-chair-of-the-kennedy-center/1014248/1 "2025-02-12T21:55:09Z")
Trump’s not just coming for the government. He wants to remake our whole culture. > **[Trump Made Chair of Kennedy Center as Its President Is Fired](https://www.nytimes.com/2025/02/12/us/politics/trump-kennedy-center-chairman.html?unlocked_article_code=1.wU4.IhTP.bnrwey2r9ioM&smid=url-share)** > > The president solidified his grip on the performing arts complex as the center’s longtime president, Deborah F. Rutter, was fired. ---
**Author:** ![dolphinboy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dolphinboy/32/330_2.png) [@dolphinboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dolphinboy)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2025, 10:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-is-made-chair-of-the-kennedy-center/1014248/2 "2025-02-12T22:57:09Z")
And you’re surprised by this? ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2025, 11:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-is-made-chair-of-the-kennedy-center/1014248/3 "2025-02-12T23:03:07Z")
I don’t like the passive voice as it hides the actor. Shouldn’t this read “ **Trump Makes Himself Chair of the Kennedy Center** ”? And who exactly fired Deborah Rutter? Let’s name names. ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2025, 11:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-is-made-chair-of-the-kennedy-center/1014248/4 "2025-02-12T23:05:19Z")
And I thought he only wanted one day as dictator . ---
**Author:** ![Chad\_Sudan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chad_sudan/32/4509_2.png) [@Chad\_Sudan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chad_Sudan)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2025, 11:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-is-made-chair-of-the-kennedy-center/1014248/5 "2025-02-12T23:08:57Z")
A quick Googling reveals that the Kennedy Center’s budget last year was $45 million from the government, $95 million from private donations, and $125 million from revenue. Time for staff and patrons of the old Kennedy Center to start a new center. We still have the right to freedom of association. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2025, 11:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-is-made-chair-of-the-kennedy-center/1014248/6 "2025-02-12T23:12:51Z")
I can hardly wait to see Hulk Hogan get the honors. ---
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2025, 11:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-is-made-chair-of-the-kennedy-center/1014248/7 "2025-02-12T23:53:16Z")
Like this dumbfuck doesn’t think being president of the whole country ought to be a fulltime job? ---
**Author:** ![aurora\_maire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aurora_maire/32/328_2.png) [@aurora\_maire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aurora_maire)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2025, 12:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-is-made-chair-of-the-kennedy-center/1014248/8 "2025-02-13T00:10:31Z")
But he wants to be a conductor, too! He posted this picture along with the announcement on Truth Social. [![](https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/fYwHjena67ABYvDZNUdyAw--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTk2MDtoPTcyMA--/https://media.zenfs.com/en/thedailybeast.com/1a958004861c956991dcdc652cea6395) ](https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/fYwHjena67ABYvDZNUdyAw--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTk2MDtoPTcyMA--/https://media.zenfs.com/en/thedailybeast.com/1a958004861c956991dcdc652cea6395) ---
**Author:** ![Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmer_j.fudd/32/1211_2.png) [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elmer_J.Fudd)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2025, 12:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-is-made-chair-of-the-kennedy-center/1014248/9 "2025-02-13T00:11:39Z")
> [@aurora\_maire](#): > > But he wants to be a conductor, too! Well, he has the caboose for the job. ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2025, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-is-made-chair-of-the-kennedy-center/1014248/10 "2025-02-13T00:19:41Z")
> [@ThelmaLou](#): > > I don’t like the passive voice as it hides the actor. Shouldn’t this read “ **Trump Makes Himself Chair of the Kennedy Center** ”? I agree Just because the NYT has lost its spine doesn’t mean the SDMB should follow. I’ve flagged the thread to ask for a de-naming. ---
**Author:** ![Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmer_j.fudd/32/1211_2.png) [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elmer_J.Fudd)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2025, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-is-made-chair-of-the-kennedy-center/1014248/11 "2025-02-13T00:22:30Z")
> [@Northern\_Piper](#): > > I’ve flagged the thread to ask for a de-naming. As the OP, I’m fine with that. ---
**Author:** ![Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/13edae/32.png) [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stranger_On_A_Train)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2025, 12:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-is-made-chair-of-the-kennedy-center/1014248/12 "2025-02-13T00:53:19Z")
> [@Procrustus](#): > > And I thought he only wanted one day as dictator \Because that is the way dictatorships usually work. \ Stranger ---
**Author:** ![Spoons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spoons/32/3141_2.png) [@Spoons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoons)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2025, 12:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-is-made-chair-of-the-kennedy-center/1014248/13 "2025-02-13T00:53:50Z")
Don’t you have to know something about music in order to be an orchestra conductor? ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2025, 2:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-is-made-chair-of-the-kennedy-center/1014248/14 "2025-02-13T02:18:17Z")
It was probably one of those fund-raiser things. A buddy of mine won a contest for donating to the local symphony. He got to stand up and “conduct” for one short piece. ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2025, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-is-made-chair-of-the-kennedy-center/1014248/15 "2025-02-13T02:19:36Z")
> [@Northern\_Piper](#): > > to ask for a de-naming. That should say “re-naming”, as suggested by ThelmaLou. ---
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2025, 2:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-is-made-chair-of-the-kennedy-center/1014248/16 "2025-02-13T02:27:47Z")
Anyone see the Andy Borowitz headline? **[Trump Names Himself Principal Ballerina of Kennedy Center Ballet](https://substack.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.r28CqrBSCTb7FwO82icPlzZEUog5Za9maLqcB6G5uiI?)** ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2025, 2:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-is-made-chair-of-the-kennedy-center/1014248/17 "2025-02-13T02:38:13Z")
🤣 > He said he was “disgusted” to discover that all of the company’s current ballerinas were women, a state of affairs that he blamed on DEI. ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2025, 2:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-is-made-chair-of-the-kennedy-center/1014248/18 "2025-02-13T02:41:42Z")
Trump in a tutu? ARGH! Ze goggles, zey do nozink!! ---
**Author:** ![Sooner](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sooner/32/7875_2.png) [@Sooner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sooner)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2025, 2:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-is-made-chair-of-the-kennedy-center/1014248/19 "2025-02-13T02:43:24Z")
This is obviously incorrect. It is, or very soon will be rebranded a Trump property. Horrible gold accents and all. ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2025, 3:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-is-made-chair-of-the-kennedy-center/1014248/20 "2025-02-13T03:07:38Z")
> [@aurora\_maire](#): > > But he wants to be a conductor, too! I’d like to see him have a chance to be a conductor. Get strapped into Old Sparky and Roll On Two. This must be about culture wars. Gotta make sure that the “right” people get to perform and get honors and so on. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-is-made-chair-of-the-kennedy-center/1014248.md?page=2)