Kennedy Center
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Three-time Oscar-nominated composer and Kennedy Center honoree Philip Glass has canceled a planned Abraham Lincoln-inspired performance at the Kennedy Center, citing a "direct conflict" with President Donald Trump's leadership at the historic venue.
In a short statement shared Tuesday to social media, Glass, 88, announced that he would no longer world-premiere his new symphony Lincoln at the Washington performing arts center.
"After thoughtful consideration, I have decided to withdraw my Symphony No. 15 'Lincoln' from the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts," Glass wrote on X, using the full name of the JFK memorial venue that Trump has attempted to change to bear his own in recent months.
Glass, nominated by the Academy for scoring Notes on a Scandal, The Hours, and Kundun, continued, "Symphony No. 15 is a portrait of Abraham Lincoln, and the values of the Kennedy Center today are in direct conflict with the message of the Symphony. Therefore, I feel an obligation to withdraw this Symphony premiere from the Kennedy Center under its current leadership."
https://ew.com/philip-glass-cancels-kennedy-center-symphony-donald-trump-conflict-11893471
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Not even one Scaramucci's worth.
In a Jan. 16 news release, the Kennedy Center announced that Kevin Couch would be its new senior vice president of artistic programming.
On Jan. 22, the center posted the announcement on X.
Not a week later, Couch resigned.
Couch confirmed his resignation Wednesday but declined to comment further.
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Guess this is one way to avoid the embarrassment of cancellations.
President Trump said Sunday he will move to close Washington's Kennedy Center performing arts center for two years starting in July for construction, his latest move to upturn the storied venue since returning to the White House.
https://www.npr.org/2026/02/01/nx-s1-5695832/kennedy-center-renovations-trump
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Behind the scenes. More chaos.
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@wtg said in Kennedy Center:
Don't forget the Arc de Trump. Or the Institute of Peace.
Is the Arc de Trump something he wants to build or something he wants to put his name on?
I can't see him renaming Washington Square Park, Trump Square Park, or the Washington Arch, Trump Arch. This probably wouldn't be grand enough for him.
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Behind the scenes. More chaos.
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Kennedy Center exodus continues as National Symphony director Jean Davidson exits
Davidson said she found it difficult to remain, ‘given the external forces that are at work that are just so far beyond my control’https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/mar/06/kennedy-center-national-symphony-director-exits
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A federal judge has blocked President Trump from adding his name to the Kennedy Center, saying that the Washington, D.C. arts complex was named for the late president John F. Kennedy. In a ruling on Friday, the judge also temporarily blocked the administration from closing the Kennedy Center for a planned two-year renovation that was slated to begin in July.
U.S. District Court Judge Christopher Cooper wrote in his ruling that: "The Kennedy Center's organic statute makes crystal clear that the Center is to be named for President Kennedy, and it cannot bear any other formal name or public memorial based on the Board's unilateral say-so. Congress gave the Kennedy Center its name, and only Congress can change it."
https://www.npr.org/2026/05/29/nx-s1-5839349/president-trump-kennedy-center-name-judge-order
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@Mik said: Bad Bunny. Kennedy Center. The stupid never stops.The “Bad Bunny Kennedy Center” does have a nice ring to it…
What did I miss re Bad Bunny and the Kennedy Center?
@Mik said: Bad Bunny. Kennedy Center. The stupid never stops.The “Bad Bunny Kennedy Center” does have a nice ring to it…
What did I miss re Bad Bunny and the Kennedy Center?
Nothing at all, it’s just that the falderal about him doing the Super Bowl halftime is just dumb.
But the name is preferable to the proposed alternative.
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A federal judge has blocked President Trump from adding his name to the Kennedy Center, saying that the Washington, D.C. arts complex was named for the late president John F. Kennedy. In a ruling on Friday, the judge also temporarily blocked the administration from closing the Kennedy Center for a planned two-year renovation that was slated to begin in July.
U.S. District Court Judge Christopher Cooper wrote in his ruling that: "The Kennedy Center's organic statute makes crystal clear that the Center is to be named for President Kennedy, and it cannot bear any other formal name or public memorial based on the Board's unilateral say-so. Congress gave the Kennedy Center its name, and only Congress can change it."
https://www.npr.org/2026/05/29/nx-s1-5839349/president-trump-kennedy-center-name-judge-order
A federal judge has blocked President Trump from adding his name to the Kennedy Center, saying that the Washington, D.C. arts complex was named for the late president John F. Kennedy. In a ruling on Friday, the judge also temporarily blocked the administration from closing the Kennedy Center for a planned two-year renovation that was slated to begin in July.
U.S. District Court Judge Christopher Cooper wrote in his ruling that: "The Kennedy Center's organic statute makes crystal clear that the Center is to be named for President Kennedy, and it cannot bear any other formal name or public memorial based on the Board's unilateral say-so. Congress gave the Kennedy Center its name, and only Congress can change it."
https://www.npr.org/2026/05/29/nx-s1-5839349/president-trump-kennedy-center-name-judge-order
I thought that might happen. Good.
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President Donald Trump on Friday said his administration will transfer control of the Kennedy Center to Congress, after a judge ordered the removal of Trump's name from the iconic Washington venue and blocked his plans to close it for renovations.
Trump said on social media that he instructed the U.S. Commerce Department to "make all necessary arrangements with Congress to allow a full and complete transfer of this Institution" and give lawmakers responsibility over its operation, maintenance and management.
It was not immediately clear how Trump's directive could be carried out. The Kennedy Center was created by Congress in 1958 and is run by a board of trustees that the president has packed with allies in his second term.
https://www.reuters.com/world/us-judge-orders-removal-trumps-name-kennedy-center-2026-05-29/
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Deeper dive into the points raised by the retired judges:
https://www.npr.org/2026/05/30/nx-s1-5839989/judge-review-trump-anti-weaponization-fund
And here's their amicus brief:
https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/28176766-motion-from-35-former-federal-judges/
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