Musician Ben Folds testified before a bicameral congressional forum on 21 July 2026, arguing that Donald Trump's takeover of Washington's Kennedy Center has damaged the institution. Folds, who resigned as the National Symphony Orchestra's Artistic Advisor over the takeover, said the once-apolitical venue had been undermined after Trump removed board members, installed himself as chairman and brought in allies who reshaped its programming, warning that politicising art produces "propaganda."

Speaking for around five and a half minutes at the hearing led by Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), titled "Monumental Waste: How Donald Trump Is Spending Millions Destroying American Landmarks," Folds also cited last September's incident in which guitarist Yasmin Williams was heckled by organised Republicans after she questioned changes at the Center. He concluded that the takeover had "hobbled the Kennedy Center, broke its once-proven successful business model, and disrespected its original core mission."