Former Kennedy Center president speaks out in first interview since her firing

[BumRushDaShow]

Source: NPR

February 14, 2025 4:31 PM ET


Deborah Rutter served as president of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts for a decade. This week, she was fired. President Trump had replaced many board members with his own supporters. Then, on Wednesday, the new board elected Trump as the center's new chair.

It was a fulfillment of the promise President Trump repeated on Monday to become chairman, along with promising the Kennedy Center's performances would be "good" and "not woke."

Trump previously said that he had never been to a show at the Kennedy Center. "I didn't want to go," he said during a gaggle aboard Air Force One on Sunday. "There was nothing I wanted to see."

In the first interview since her ouster, Deborah Rutter told NPR that she was "really, really, really sad about what happens to our artists, what happens on our stages and our staff who support them." Rutter told All Things Considered host Mary Louise Kelly about the abrupt end of her tenure.

Read more: https://www.npr.org/2025/02/14/nx-s1-5296904/former-kennedy-center-president-speaks-out-in-first-interview-since-her-firing

[CTyankee]

1. This is so sad. I was living in the D.C. area when the center first opened.

It was a cultural boon to the D.C. area. We had moved down there from Westchester county New York and were appalled at the lack of cultural amenities in D.C. The KC helped enormously!

[TommieMommy]

2. So sad that the moron has to ruin everything. 😞

[NEOBuckeye]

9. America fucked itself by not "ruining" him on Nov 6

I guess it has to get really bad under this bastard for us to learn what we should already have known.

[The Grand Illuminist]

11. They need to be held accountable

With prejudice.

[Mc Mike]

12. But to be fair, look at it from shitler's pov.

We attacked everything he values and holds dear: his fat ass's freedom, and all the money he stole over these many decades.

So it's only right he attack all we hold dear: Education, National Security, Kennedy Center, consumer protection, Justice, truth, the American way, etc.

[electric_blue68]

3. My sis, and I usually watch all or some of the K C Honor Awards show at our holuday get together...

A good chance we won't this Dec.

Poor Deborah Rutter, all her (and others) hard work....

[MLWR]

4. Stars should refuse to perform there

And "regular folks" should boycott trump's shows and not buy tickets. This is reprehensible.

[mdbl]

6. I certainly won't be watching anymore

Not until Hitler is removed again.

[johnnyfins]

5. "There was nothing I wanted to see"

Now there will be nothing ANYONE wants to see. I look forward to seeing him fall asleep at the upcoming "events".

[hunter]

7. The Trump Center for Performing Excrement.

We can rename things too.

[Orange Buffoon]

8. On the positive side...

We'll get to see Kid Rock and Lee Greenwood perform there. And maybe Ted Nugent. I'm all pins and needles!

[robleb]

10. Don't Forget

the amazing Village People with Trump dancing on stage. Now that is entertainment !

[IbogaProject]

13. Fyi the current "Village People" aren't origional

They are a corporate thing using owned trademarks and copyrights and contain impostors, which is on brand for the GOP.

[Evolve Dammit]

14. Ted Nugent again???