Kennedy Center owner Richard Grenell, a loyal supporter of President Donald Trump, is outraged again after another performance group canceled an event at the once-famous arts venue.
The San Francisco Ballet announced it was canceling a five-day performance scheduled for May at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, prompting a pointed response from Grenell, 59.
The New York Times reports that ballet committees are under pressure to cancel performances. /Don Arnold/WireImage
“Professional artists should perform for everyone, not just those with whom they politically identify,” the Trump appointee told The New York Times on Saturday.
The Daily Beast has reached out to the San Francisco Ballet for comment. “SF Ballet looks forward to future performances for audiences in Washington, D.C.,” the company said in a statement to The New York Times.
Rehearsing “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” at the San Francisco War Memorial Opera House. / San Francisco Chronicle / Hearst N / San Francisco Chronicle via Gett
Grenell, for his part, seemed angry on multiple occasions when artists canceled shows at venues citing concerns about Trump and his administration.
After Grammy Award-winning bluegrass performer Béla Fleck pulled out of a concert planned at the venue in January, Grenell tweeted MAGA talking points on X, “You just politicized it and gave in to the woke mob who want you to perform only for lefties.”
Rick Grenell is one of Trump’s most loyal attack dogs. / Taylor Hill/ FilmMagic
Critics, however, argue that it was Trump himself who politicized the venue when he lent his name to the arts institution — a move that has reportedly caused ticket sales to plummet since he took over.
As attendance continued to dwindle, Trump, who appointed himself president of the venue, began to rely on programming relevant to himself and his family, such as the January premiere of ” Melaniathe first lady’s vanity documentary.
The Trumps rolled out the black carpet for the world premiere of “Melania” at the Kennedy Center last Thursday. /Samuel Colum/Getty Images
Still, Trump announced last month that he would close the Kennedy Center for a MAGA renovation amid mounting event cancellations. He wrote in a Truth Social post that he would “temporarily” close the center on July 4 for “construction, revitalization and complete reconstruction.” He said the reform would last two years.
The president has dismissed the capital’s premier performing arts center as “old, broken, dilapidated” and promised to transform it into a “new beautiful landmark”.
Protesters gather in front of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts after President Donald Trump’s name was added to the facade. / The Washington Post / The Washington Post via Getty Im
Meanwhile, several members of the Kennedy family have criticized the president’s rebuilding of arts institutions.
JFK’s only grandson Jack Schlossberg slams president for ‘renaming Kennedy Center after himself’ and tearing down ‘all programs’ [Kennedy] In a recent interview, "Fight for" cbs sunday morninghe also slammed Ryan Murphy, the film’s executive producer love story, New TV show about JFK Jr. and Caroline Bassett.
