Shonda Rhimes Resigns from Kennedy Center Board After Trump Appoints Himself as Chairman

Shonda Rhimes has resigned from her role as Treasurer of the Kennedy Center after President Trump appointed himself the arts organization’s new chairman, IndieWire has confirmed. Per Trump, a unanimous vote by the board he installed has now made it official.

Last week, Trump said he intended to fire several board members, including chairman David Rubenstein, who was meant to hold the position through 2026 as part of a six-year term.

Rhimes’ resignation follows musician Ben Folds, who served as artistic director to the National Symphony Orchestra, and Kennedy Center President Deborah F. Rutter, also exiting from the institution. Rhimes was appointed to the board of trustees by President Obama.

When reached by IndieWire, Rhimes had no additional comment.

In naming himself chairman, Trump railed against “ANTI-AMERICAN PROPAGANDA” — specifically the Kennedy Center having previously hosted several drag show events last year — such as the “Broadway Drag Brunch” and “Dancing Queens Drag Brunch” at the Center’s rooftop restaurant, as well as “A Drag Salute to Divas,” “Bertha: Grateful Drag,” and “Dixie’s Tupperware Party.” Trump has said he had not seen the shows in question but had heard about them.

On Wednesday, Trump said he’s appointing Richard Grenell, formerly his ambassador to Germany, as the Kennedy Center interim executive director.

Grenell “shares my Vision for a GOLDEN AGE of American Arts and Culture,” Trump wrote.

All 18 names of other board members, each of whom were appointed by President Biden, have been wiped from the Kennedy Center’s website.

In his first term as POTUS, Trump declined to attend the Kennedy Center Honors ceremony in 2017 after some honorees were critical of him. The honorees included Carmen de Lavallade, Gloria Estefan, LL Cool J, Norman Lear, and Lionel Richie. Last year’s crop of honorees included auteur Francis Ford Coppola.