Trump's Swift Takeover of Kennedy Center Alarms Arts World

A major U.S. cultural institution has shifted from a symbol of national unity to a partisan project in just months. The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington D.C. was founded as a bipartisan effort. Its board included members of both major political parties for 50 years. Its goal was to showcase the best of American arts for all citizens. Now, under the influence of Donald Trump's administration, that balance has ended. The institution's non-political mission has been quickly unraveled. The center's walls are carved with the words of President John F. Kennedy. He called for wider public participation in art and culture. The center itself was supported by presidents from both parties. Experts say this rapid change serves as a clear warning. It shows that cultural institutions are not protected from political influence. The situation urges arts organizations everywhere to consider their own defenses.