Donald Trump announced on Wednesday the future Kennedy Center awards, prestigious Washington Cultural Center, of which he recently took control of the Board of Directors, including Sylvester Stallone or Gloria Gaynor.
• Read also: Trump wants to “restore the truth” in Washington museums
When he returned to the White House, Donald Trump put the Kennedy Center under his thumb. After having reworked in mid-February the board of directors in dismissing several historic members, he was appointed to the head of the cultural institution, accusing him of being too progressive.
“We have put an end to WOKE policy” of this large performance hall, he told journalists in the immense and majestic white building by the Potomac river in Washington.
A true cultural institution, the Kennedy Center has an opera, a theater room and a symphonic orchestra.
“We have completely reversed the decline of this precious national institution,” he said.
The American president also said that he would chair the gala during which the awards are given, which generally takes place in December and is broadcast on the American channel CBS.
“I did not insist to do it, but I think it will be a success,” he said.
“Second George Washington”
Sylvester Stallone, 79, appointed three times to the Oscars is a star of American cinema, especially for his role as Rocky Balboa in “Rocky” films.
He was symbolically designated as one of Donald Trump’s “ambassadors” to Hollywood to be “eyes and ears” of the president in the film industry, mostly favorable to Democrats.
The actor had called the septuagenarian republican as “second George Washington”, in reference to the founding father and first president of the United States.
In this list, we also find Gloria Gaynor, 81, performer of “I Will Survive”, or George Strait, 73, Country legend, a musical genre traditionally appreciated by the conservatives.
The KISS group formed in the 1970s in the president’s hometown, New York, and British actor Michael Crawford, 83, known for his role in “the ghost of the opera”, are also among the winners. Donald Trump says he is an amateur of Broadway musicals.
During his first mandate from 2017 to 2021, Donald Trump had not attended the Kennedy Center awards ceremony, some artists who said they did not want to meet him.
“Anti -American propaganda”
“We are in the process of restoring the Kennedy Center so that it becomes the flagship place of the performing arts throughout the country, or even around the world,” said Donald Trump on Wednesday.
The institution “was in poor condition, the money was not spent wisely. They built things that they should not have built and that no one wanted, instead of taking care of this exceptional jewel, “he added.
Since taking control of the Republican on the Kennedy Center, a handful of artists have canceled their performances such as actress Issa Rae.
The famous musical “Hamilton”, which explores the life of one of the founding fathers of America, Alexander Hamilton, also announced to cancel its performances in 2026.
Engaged in an ultra-conservative crusade against what he calls “anti-American propaganda” in art but also in research and history, the American president has also regained control of several major museums in the capital.
The White House notably announced that it wanted to lead the Smithsonian Institution, an organization managing the main museums of Washington, an in-depth examination to ensure its “alignment” with the vision of America advocated by the president.
