Former Kennedy Center president refutes Trump's critique of 'bad management'

[BumRushDaShow]

Source: NPR

May 21, 2025 2:43 PM ET


Deborah Rutter, the former Kennedy Center president who was fired by President Donald Trump in a major shakeup of the institution, is rejecting criticisms of her tenure.

In February, Trump abruptly ousted Rutter, as well as board chair and major donor David Rubenstein and board members appointed by President Joseph Biden. Trump's newly-elected board voted him in as the new chair. At a dinner with the Kennedy Center board Monday evening, Trump said the previous leadership spent millions of dollars. "I don't know where they spent it," he said. "They certainly didn't spend it on wallpaper, carpet or painting."

Also in the video, current Kennedy Center president Richard Grenell claimed the "deferred maintenance of the Kennedy Center is criminal" and that a review of previous years' budgets "found $26 million in phantom revenue." He said he planned to "refer this to the U.S. attorney's office."

In response to the assertions, Rutter wrote in a statement, "I am deeply troubled by the false allegations regarding the management of the Kennedy Center being made by people without the context or expertise to understand the complexities involved in nonprofit and arts management." Rutter's statement was emailed to the media Tuesday and is now posted on her website.

Read more: https://www.npr.org/2025/05/21/nx-s1-5405565/kennedy-center-trump-deborah-rutter

[jls4561]

1. I suppose by "deferred maintenance" he means not plastering tacky gold tat all over the place.

Now the new regime can fix all that so the Dear Leader can enjoy his low brow musicals in the style he deserves.

I hate these people. They want to destroy everything I value.

[Norrrm]

2. 'bad management' means Trump does not like them.

[no_hypocrisy]

3. Does the "Immunity" decision protect Trump from a defamation lawsuit?

[louis-t]

4. And they didn't spend it going to the Superbowl.

And they didn't spend it flying to Daytona to drive around the track. And they didn't spend it going to the Middle East to solicit bribes from foreign leaders. He's got a lot of fucking nerve.

[Bayard]

5. He fired the chairman of the board, who also happens to be a major donor

Good move.

[mdbl]

6. The Kennedy center is dead to me for the next 4 years

and possibly longer depending on the future trajectory of the way this country votes.