Trump is announcing plans to turn on the Kennedy Center Board and appoint themselves President

Cnn
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President Donald Trump announced an aggressive plan on Friday night to bow the existing board of the Kennedy Center for Performing Arts and removes his chairman, Billionaire Philanthropist David Rubenstein, a remarkable step aimed at redeveloping the country’s cultural center.

Trump said he would appoint himself as chairman of the board.

“In my direction, we have to make the Kennedy Center in Washington DC, great again. I have decided to immediately end several people from the board, including the chairman who does not share our vision for a golden age in art and culture, ” Trump said in a post to truth. “We will soon announce a new board with a fantastic chairman, Donald J. Trump!”

Trump has tried to reshape the use of executive authority since accession last month, and this effort is a striking and personal example of retaliation aimed at political enemies.

Rubenstein, the board’s current chairman, is an ally of former President Joe Biden.

Trump’s message also dives directly into the cultural wars when he called the center’s programming.

Trump continued, “Just last year contained Kennedy Center Dragshows, specifically targeting our youth – this will stop. The Kennedy Center is an American jewel and must reflect the brightest stars on its stage from our entire nation. For the Kennedy Center, the best has not yet come! ”

Presidents appoint members to the Board of Directors on an ongoing basis. It was not immediately clear who would be affected by the news. CNN has reached the Kennedy Center as well as several members appointed by democratic presidents for comment.

Reached a comment Friday night, a member of the board, who was appointed by a democratic president, said they had not yet received any communication from the Kennedy Center on their status on the board.

CNN has also reached a spokesman for Shonda Rhimes, who acts as the board’s treasurer.

The current members appointed by Trump include Lee Greenwood, Paolo Zampolli and court lawyer Pamela Bondi.

Last week, Kennedy Center’s President Deborah Rutter announced plans to resign at the end of the year. The board had started a search for her replacement and preserved a headhunter. Choosing her successor it seems will fall for the president.

CNN’s Kevin Liptak contributed to this report.