Ben Folds Resigns from Kennedy Center Role as Donald Trump Is Elected Chair: 'Not for Me'

Mar. 15, 2025

Ben Folds; Donald Trump.Photo:Taylor Hill/FilmMagic;James Devaney/GC Images

Taylor Hill/FilmMagic;James Devaney/GC Images

Ben Foldsis stepping down from his position at the National Symphony Orchestra.

“Given the developments at the Kennedy Center, effective today I am resigning as artistic advisor to the NSO. Not for me,” he wrote in a statementshared on Instagram.

“It’s been a wonderful 8 years working with Kennedy Center President Deb Rutter, fellow artistic advisor Renee Fleming, and the entire NSO staff, encouraging thousands of fresh new audiences to appreciate symphonic music.”

The multi-platinum singer/songwriter/producer concluded, “Mostly, and above all, I will miss the musicians of our nation’s symphony orchestra — just the best!”

Ben Folds in Washington DC in June 2017.Paul Morigi/WireImage

Paul Morigi/WireImage

Deborah Rutter was fired from her position, a role she held from 2014 to 2025, theNYTreported.Richard Grenellwas appointed interim president, while Trump, 78, replaced former Kennedy Center chair David M. Rubenstein.

This change in staffing comes after Trump, 78, was elected chair of the Kennedy Center. Last week, the president posted onTruth Socialhis plans for the cultural institution.

“At my direction, we are going to make the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C., GREAT AGAIN,” Trump wrote on Feb. 7.

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“I have decided to immediately terminate multiple individuals from the Board of Trustees, including the Chairman, who do not share our Vision for a Golden Age in Arts and Culture. We will soon announce a new Board, with an amazing Chairman, DONALD J. TRUMP!” he added.

The Kennedy Center responded on Feb. 8, saying that they “received no official communications from the White House.”

“There is nothing in the Center’s statute that would prevent a new administration from replacing board members; however, this would be the first time such action has been taken with the Kennedy Center’s board.”

While Trump was en route to the Super Bowl in New Orleans on Sunday, Feb. 9, he took questions from the press andsaid that the shows were “terrible,“reiterating his plan to take over the cultural center.

“I want to make sure it runs properly,” Trump said at the time. “We don’t need woke at the Kennedy Center, and we don’t need — some of the shows were terrible. They were a disgrace that they were even put on.”

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When reporters asked if he had ever seen a show at the Kennedy Center, Trump said he had not. “I get reports they were so bad… I didn’t want to go,” he responded. “There was nothing I wanted to see.”

source: people.com