President Donald Trump is aiming to give the Kennedy Center a MAGA makeover, and he has reportedly called on the country that gifted him his “palace in the sky” to do it.
The Wall Street Journal reported that the Republican president’s dramatic takeover of the longtime performing arts institution has led to plummeting ticket sales.
Last month, Trump set the tone of his hostile takeover by dissing the institution’s history of programming and its physical space during a dinner with the center’s board members.
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“The building is falling apart,” Trump said as his dinner guests let out uneasy laughter. “I don’t want to scare people. It’s in fine shape, but it’s falling apart.”
To fix this, The Wall Street Journal reported that Trump has put out calls to the Middle East to bankroll a renovation or two—which could include rehabbing its VIP suites and even building a marina next to the venue so the nautical elite can pull up and enjoy the center’s programming from the water.
Reportedly on the call list was Qatar, which gifted Trump his $400 million “palace in sky” Boeing jet, which he plans to use as his Air Force One until he pockets the aircraft for personal use at the end of his presidential term.
“The back of the house and the front of the house have been left in an embarrassing state. I am proud to be a small part of a team where the boss eschews partisan politics in favor of putting American culture, heritage, and excellence first,” Richard Grenell said in a statement. He was named executive director of the Kennedy Center in February.
Les Misérables, the president’s favorite musical, will open the center’s programming this week, and some of MAGA’s most faithful followers have shilled out $2 million to join the president at the performance.
