New this morning, President Trump is expected to announce this year's Kennedy Center honorees while visiting the Story Performing Arts Center. Earlier this year, President Trump took the unprecedented move to gut the Kennedy Center's board, going on to name himself as chairman. His visit today comes as he makes a broad push for control over the nation's capital, highlighting his efforts to influence cultural institutions in Washington, D.C.
The announcement of the honorees will be the first since President Trump assumed the role of chairman of the Kennedy Center's board in February. He also appointed a close ally, Rick Grinnell, as the Kennedy Center's president. The President hinted at potential renaming of the Kennedy Center after himself or First Lady Melania Trump in a social media post, generating speculation about the future of the institution.
