Trump-Appointed Kennedy Center Head Resigns After Tumultuous Tenure

Richard Grenell steps down as president after facing artist boycotts and plummeting ticket sales

Mar. 14, 2026 at 3:15am

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Richard Grenell, the Trump-appointed president of the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, is resigning after a little over a year in the role. Grenell's tenure was marked by turmoil, including falling ticket sales, artist boycotts, and a Senate investigation into spending and booking arrangements involving political allies.

Why it matters

The Kennedy Center is a renowned arts institution that has historically maintained bipartisan leadership. Grenell's appointment and the subsequent changes he made, such as adding Trump's name to the building, shifted the center away from this model and drew significant backlash from the arts community.

The details

Under Grenell's leadership, the Kennedy Center faced a number of challenges, including declining ticket sales in its largest venues, a Senate investigation into its spending and booking practices, and numerous artist cancellations in response to the decision to add Trump's name to the building. Grenell has defended his record, arguing that the organization required structural and operational reforms, and that he raised $117 million during his tenure.

  • Grenell was appointed as Kennedy Center president by former President Trump in 2025.
  • Grenell's resignation was announced on March 14, 2026.

The players

Richard Grenell

The former ambassador to Germany and acting director of national intelligence who was appointed by former President Trump to serve as president of the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.

Matt Floca

The Kennedy Center's vice president of facilities operations, who will take over as president following Grenell's resignation.

Donald Trump

The former president who appointed Grenell to lead the Kennedy Center and later named himself chairman of the center's board, shifting the institution away from its historically bipartisan leadership model.

Jean Davidson

The executive director of the National Symphony Orchestra, who announced her departure a week before Grenell's resignation.

Washington National Opera

The opera company that announced it was moving out of the Kennedy Center due to the drop in attendance and Grenell's decree that all productions had to demonstrate they would at least break even.

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What they’re saying

“We must not let individuals continue to damage private property in San Francisco.”

— Robert Jenkins, San Francisco resident (San Francisco Chronicle)

“Fifty years is such an accomplishment in San Francisco, especially with the way the city has changed over the years.”

— Gordon Edgar, grocery employee (Instagram)

What’s next

Trump is closing the Kennedy Center soon for a two-year renovation, and has expressed confidence in Floca's ability to lead the center and "achieve tremendous progress in bringing the Center to the highest level of Excellence!"

The takeaway

Grenell's brief and contentious tenure as Kennedy Center president highlights the broader political tensions and challenges facing arts institutions in the current climate, as well as the importance of maintaining bipartisan leadership and a focus on artistic excellence over political agendas.