Ben Folds Testifies Before Congress About Trump’s Kennedy Center Takeover
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."
In short
- Ben Folds testified to Congress against Trump's Kennedy Center takeover
- He said politicising the arts venue amounted to "propaganda"
- Cited September heckling of guitarist Yasmin Williams by Republicans
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Institutions like the Kennedy Center necessarily operate under political leadership, and governance changes reflect legitimate policy shifts. If previous leadership was perceived as biased or unresponsive to some constituencies, reform is democratically valid. Programming decisions reflect different values, not corruption, and reasonable people disagree on what serves the public interest. Elected officials should be accountable for how public institutions operate.
The case against
Art institutions must remain independent of political control to preserve integrity and serve all citizens impartially. When a political leader takes over the Kennedy Center's board, removes members, and reshapes programming, the institution becomes a vehicle for propaganda rather than artistic merit. This damages decades of trusted service to American culture, as evidenced by harassment of artists like Yasmin Williams, and irreparably compromises the Kennedy Center's original mission.
Explained simply
The Kennedy Center is a major performing arts venue in Washington, DC, and the home of the National Symphony Orchestra. It was established as a national cultural centre and hosts music, theatre and other performances.
Donald Trump’s changes to the centre’s leadership and programming have drawn criticism from some artists and supporters of its former direction. Ben Folds, a musician who served as the orchestra’s artistic advisor, resigned after the takeover; the centre’s board and programming are also central to the dispute.
The debate matters because the Kennedy Center is both a cultural institution and a prominent national landmark. It raises questions about who should guide publicly prominent arts organisations and how political influence may affect their artistic mission and business.
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