As someone who appreciates the arts & their role in telling U.S. history in all its glory & pain, the President’s actions are concerning at the least. The law does not allow him to appoint himself chair of the board. I am not even certain he knows what the chair of the board does.
As an Honorary Trustee of the Kennedy Center by virtue of the law, I will continue to watch this issue closely & do what I can to ensure the Kennedy Center keeps its artistic freedom to share the cultural diversity of the world.
President Trump’s Kennedy Center announcement appears to be blatantly illegal. U.S. Code says general trustees “shall hold office … for a term of 6 years” - nothing about the President having power to remove - and the Chairperson is appointed by the Board. A president cannot appoint himself.