Donald Trump's takeover of the Kennedy Center

 BREAKING: Donald Trump's takeover of the Kennedy Center implodes in humiliating fashion as droves of talented celebrities abandon the legendary performing artscenter in protest.

Trump is radioactive with the people he wants to impress most...

Actress Issa Rae announced on Instagram in a brief statement that she is cancelling her "An Evening With Issa Rae" event slated for next month. Tickets will be refunded.

"Unfortunately, due to what I believe to be an infringement on the values of an institution that has faithfully celebrated artists of all backgrounds through all mediums, I’ve decided to cancel my appearance at this venue," she wrote.

Trump made himself chairman of the center on Wednesday. Earlier this week he removed Biden appointees from the board and rammed in unqualified cronies including Second Lady Usha Vance and White House Chief of staff Susie Wiles.

Mega-successful television producer and writer Shonda Rhimes — the woman behind hit shows like Grey's Anatomy, Bridgerton, and Scandal among others — resigned as treasurer of the center's board yesterday.

She posted a quote from JFK on her Instagram: "If art is to nourish the roots of our culture, society must set the artist free to follow his vision wherever it takes him."

Legendary soprano Renée Fleming resigned as artistic advisor to the center and while she avoided naming Trump, she praised David M. Rubenstein — the center's former chairman who was ousted.

Singer and songwriter Ben Folds stepped down from his role as advisor to the National Symphony Orchestra, which the Kennedy Center oversees.

"Given developments at the Kennedy Center, effective today I am resigning as artistic adviser to the N.S.O. Mostly, and above all, I will miss the musicians of our nation’s symphony orchestra — just the best!" Folds wrote on Instagram.

Adam Weiner of the band Low Cut Connie has also canceled an appearance at the center next month.

"Upon learning that this institution that has run nonpartisan for 54 years is now chaired by President Trump himself and his regime, I decided I will not perform there," he wrote on social media, adding that friends and fans were going to be "directly negatively affected by this administration’s policies and messaging."

This is the kind of rejection that infuriates Donald Trump more than anything. He has long wanted to be accepted by America's cultural elites. Instead, they see him for the cruel, fascist, incompetent failure he truly is.

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What I don't understand is how it's possible for Trump to appoint himself as the chairman of such an august institution and fire all the people running the place! Does he own it? It's like him renaming the Gulf of Mexico the Gulf of America!

WHO THE FUCK DOES HE THINK HE IS?

Then there's the purchasing of Gaza and the huge cost of rebuilding it and the redevelopment. Then chucking out all the inhabitants, to where? Who's money is he going to use and which army is he going to protect it with?

Mexico still hasn't coughed up for the wall that Trump was going to build on the border! Ahahahah! Oh, then there's the little matter of Canada and Greenland. I'm getting a little apprehensive, in case he comes over to the UK and drives off with my car! 3 months ago, I'd have been quite happy if he driven off in my little van, because I had to scrap it! Ahahahaha!

HE'S AN ABSOLUTE NUTTER!

APRICOT AUTOCRAT

Felonious Punk, for those who like jazz.

he had a lawsuit in the uk and lost it,from what I remember he had to pay his lawyer and the other folks lawyer. i wonder if he ever paid, btw because of how he treated the folks at the town where his golf is at, they want to ban him from ever entry to the UK, it did not pass, you can look up what happened there as it was in the scottish paper, forgot the name.

The next program playing at the Kennedy Center is the musical “Even Presidents Can’t Buy Class!”

Good one!

Hitler was shunned by the jewish Art institute's he so wanted acceptance by……Look what happened next.

Would somebody please get this stupid ahole and his boyfriend out of the Oval Office,my God what’s it gonna take?

Fat Orange Faced Convicted Felon MORON he is Destroy Everything……… No surprise

AIN’T GONNA PLAY SUN CITY !!

Everyone should boycott all venues and casinos that have anything to do with Trump!

Add Musk to the list to boycott

Lou Reed ♥

He’s just the despicable dictatorial asshole that everyone but MAGAts knew he was.

GOODNESS!!!! i WONDER IF THEY GET THE HINT,?? GOOD FOR THEM. THAT IS STANDING UP . I hope others will do the same thing, kudos to all of them

I expect they will be playing a lot more Wagner there…. 🤓

And Kid Rock.

😂

Have to say that his ( DT) latest vomiting of disgusting rhetoric does not surprise me and should not anyone else, there’s no depth to this slimesbags depravity that should shock any descent human, the fact that the GOP are allowing him to spread these lies and poisoned uttering is testimony to how low this wretched party has become, he will dump on you when you’re of no use to him and you’ll deserve that treatment.

Well done celebrities who resigned in protest. United you win and win you shall. God Bless you All.

Sure get all lyrical about it and art’s claim to be good for the soul, but this bigot like many “celebrities the USA climb on the pile to be seen.

The answer is to boycott his claims and events proving him shallow.

He just wants press and like others any press is good press.

Donald John Trump needs to stop and take a look at him self

Let's not forget that he kept a book of Hitler's speeches by his bedside. That's what his dead Ex-wife said long ago. Apparently somehow she fell down her own stairs and broke her neck. That doesn't happen every day does it? He quickly cremated her and buried her down there at Merry-Go-Land. I never heard if she ever had a funeral of some sorts

More irritable bowel TDS from the lefty Looney side. This is nothing more than a left-wing grift not a non-partisan company. They receive over $300 million dollars in taxpayer funds. The person in charge was getting paid more than the president of the United States but yet wasn't making any money for the United States or The taxpayers funding this grift. Having this thing implode is good,, having it go away is better. Cry all you want Trump is getting rid of government waste fraud and corruption from the left and the socialist Democrat party. Time for those that aren't too far to the left to come back to normalcy and realize that our taxpayer money is our money and not your money. Any Democrat who wants to voluntarily give their paychecks up for Democratic things go for it. Stop the taxpayer grift.

Our money is Donald Trump’s money. Trump believes that he is omnipotent, with no consideration for the consequences of running our government into the ground.

People who think as you do give him that power.

It looks like he’s getting a lot done very rapidly. Bombs also get a lot done very quickly. California fires got a lot done fast. Hurricanes get a lot done in minutes.

Construction and growth take time. Destruction is rapid.

Amen. He is cleaning out the riff raff.

I could care less what “performers” say or do. We would be better off without their entitled egos.

Be careful beautiful brave creative America..

Hell hath no fury like a fascist Orangutang scorned…

Great way to get rid of wokeness

….. and the yellow nightmare aka america’s own mango mussolini goes on ……GOD SAVE AMERICA ……

I’d like to agree with you, but I really don’t see any evidence that Trump wishes to impress people associated with the Arts. Most of the people who voted for him have probably never heard of the ‘celebrities’ you mention.

Needs be a lot more of you folk voting with your feet. It will take a loooooooong time for Trump and his Minions to get the message. But the way he is going he'll probably have a coronary and trip down the steps instead of climbing up. Ah my mistake, he's supposed to be the fittest President ever and his medical records prove that. Ah ha ha ha ha.

If you wrote it makes me laugh, it won't look so much like a child wrote it. Unless?

Omg he is a POs why are MAGAs still sticking up for him wtf is wrong with you people the???kennedy is rolling over in his grave and we should all be very pissed off ! I know us normal people are people that have a brain and a heart and soul ! Wake the f up from your koolaid coma MAGAs u need to protest him like the rest of America! You’re going down just like the rest of us ! He’s out of control and needs to be stopped immediately

These aren’t even C-List celebs, other than the band Ben Folds (who suck [didn’t know the singer by name]) I’ve never even heard of any of these people. The fact that you think djt wants to be accepted by these people is asinine. I assure you, he couldn’t care less, he’s the president of the USA. Enjoy the next 4 years.

Which celebrities were rich before they rose to fame?

The numbers are GREATLY exaggerated, it is normal for Trump to lie but I had hoped for some truth from Musk.

Not a single Democrat has come out condemning the wastes, fraud, and abuse uncovered by Musk. Why are Democrats so scared of government transparency and accountability?

Why don't the wealthy give shelter to the homeless?

It only took 6 decades before his conscience caught up to him

What accounts exist about the cruelty of Nazi camp guards in all types of camps where Jews and other prisoners were held?

He could have made a stunning Vampire without the work!

Who is a famous actor who had all his teeth removed?

While speaking to our allies in Europe, Pete spilled the beans about Trump’s ‘planned concessions’ to Vladimir Putin at their proposed “peace” summit in Saudi Arabia.

First, Hegseth ruled out NATO membership for Ukraine. He said, “The United States does not believe that NATO membership for Ukraine is a realistic outcome of a negotiated settlement.”

Trump had to call Putin shortly after Hegseth made the statement. He then called Pete from the Oval Office. Sparks flew.

Second, Hegseth said that a return to Ukraine’s pre-2014 borders “is an unrealistic objective.”

Disclosure of this critical information puts Trump negotiators at a distinct disadvantage at the future summit in Saudi Arabia. Showing your hand never wins the game.

Former State Department spokesman Matthew Miller stated, “They just surrendered one of the main points of leverage before negotiations even begin.”

Hegseth later tried to backtrack and soften his statements. Too late. The damage was done. I can just hear Trump loudly cursing him from the Oval Office.

I can’t say it’s been nice having ya, Petie. Good luck finding work after disappointing the dictator. Time for a drink, eh? This one’s on me.

Hegseth rules out NATO membership for Ukraine and says Europe must be responsible for country’s security | CNN Politics

Hegseth rules out NATO membership for Ukraine and says Europe must be responsible for country’s security | CNN Politics

https://www.cnn.com/2025/02/12/politics/hegseth-ukraine-rules-out-nato-membership/index.html

I'm starting to like Pete because he's so incompetent.

You have a point. Guess we aren't really surprised, rigjt?

😃 😀 😄

SUCH an incompetent drunkard.

Oh, sorry for the redundancy in that sentence.

It's ok. Pete IS incompetent, and he IS a drunkard.

Cheers!

😂😂😂 Pete's DEFINITELY going to need a really big strong drink. Daddy's gonna be mad 🤣

Daddy will have to put him to bed without supper or a drink. Bad boy!

We all heard the ticking clock.

I think it likely to go down as one of the most jaw-droppingly stupid ‘ploys’ in history. Up there with Chamberlain at - the irony - Munich.

I agree. I’d really love to hear Trump’s telephone conversations with Putin and Hegseth directly after his statements.

My prediction is the incompetency of the MAGA universe - hastened by their hatred of America, our planet, the rule of law and just people in general - will cause it to self-destruct, little by little, much to the enjoyment of all sane, civil, caring and decent people of the world.

Their legs will crumble under the weight of their own stupidity, arrogance, greed, lust for power and ignorance. The world will have a glorious front row seat to watch this disgustingly comical parade of cannibals devour themselves until the only things left of them are their lifeless bones scattered across America pecked at by winged scavengers hunting for a hopeless speck of uneaten flesh to satisfy their hunger. This evil scourge upon the world will then finally be eradicated from the face of Mother Earth.

My hope is that this happens before irreversible damage is inflicted upon our societies and the natural habitat in which we live.

Amen

Hopefully sooner rather than later.

trumpet is looking at the Ukrainian-Russian peace accords as his ticket for a Nobel Peace prize. He resents Obama winning one and the fact that no one in Hollywood chose him for an Emmy. Pete just screwed him out of his chance at infamy. Thank you Pete!

Will he won’t make that mistake again.

now if he does it twice he might be gone

Dumb Ass POS!!! He should have never been selected and Fuck the Dumb ass kissing 💋 Republicans for putting in such a vital position of our government. Move your ass over with your boy PUTIN WHERE YOU AND TRUMP BELONG!!!

Previously, former Trump Cabinet members were allowed to resign. This time around I expect we'll see an uptick in the “falling from 6th floor windows" resignations.

Why wait for resignations.

🙏🙏🙏🙏

One thing trumps is good at, sacking his cabinet members

He really got a lot of perverse enjoyment from saying “You’re fired” in every episode of The Apprentice.

It would be nice if someone sacked him

You know you REALLY screwed the pooch, when even the orange cretin thinks you did a major stupid!

A bumbling mouth Idot!

But did she get into bed with him, or did she sleep elsewhere?

What is the most heartbreaking scene you've ever watched in a film?

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Hegseth rules out NATO membership for Ukraine and says Europe must be responsible for country’s security

By Natasha Bertrand, Clare Sebastian and Haley Britzky, CNN

 7 minute read 

Updated 5:04 PM EST, Wed February 12, 2025

Hegseth speaks to NATO allies about Trump's plan for Russia and Ukraine

02:10

Brussels

CNN

 — 

US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth said on Wednesday that the war between Ukraine and Russia “must end,” that Kyiv joining NATO is unrealistic and that the US will no longer prioritize European and Ukrainian security as the Trump administration shifts its attention to securing the US’ own borders and deterring war with China.

In remarks before a meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group, Hegseth also said that European troops should be the primary force securing a post-war Ukraine—something US troops will not be involved in, he added.

“The United States does not believe that NATO membership for Ukraine is a realistic outcome of a negotiated settlement,” Hegseth said. And he added that any security guarantees offered to Ukraine “must be backed by capable European and non-European troops.”

“To be clear, as part of any security guarantee, there will not be US troops deployed to Ukraine,” he said.

Hegseth also said that a return to Ukraine’s pre-2014 borders, before Russia invaded Crimea and eastern Ukraine, “is an unrealistic objective.”

Many NATO allies would actually agree with Hegseth that getting Crimea back from Russia is not realistic, and not even Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has insisted on that as a precursor to peace talks. One NATO official said it would have been more concerning if Hegseth had said that returning to Ukraine’s pre-2022 borders was unrealistic.

But the comments about security guarantees are sure to concern Zelensky, who said this week that Europe alone cannot provide meaningful security guarantees to Ukraine without American leadership. Zelensky has also continued to insist that his country joining NATO is the only way to deter Russia from launching new attacks in the future.

Hours after Hegseth spoke, President Donald Trump announced he’d spoken with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday morning. Trump said the two agreed to work “very closely” together and begin negotiations “immediately” on ending the war in Ukraine.

“[W]e will begin by calling President Zelensky, of Ukraine, to inform him of the conversation,” Trump said. The Kremlin said Wednesday that Putin invited Trump to visit Moscow, which would mark the first visit by a US president since 2013.

Trump spoke with Zelensky shortly after getting off the phone with Putin.

Later on Wednesday afternoon, Trump said he agrees with Hegseth and does not “think it’s practical” to have Ukraine join NATO.

“I don’t think it’s practical to have it. Personally, I know that our new secretary of defense is excellent. Pete made a statement today saying that he thinks it’s unlikely or impractical. I think probably that’s true. I think long before President Putin, they said there’s no way they’d allow that. This has been going on for many, many years. They’ve been saying that for a long time that Ukraine did not go into NATO, and I’m okay with that,” Trump said from the Oval Office.

A European defense official told CNN that while many in NATO don’t necessarily believe Ukraine can join the alliance given the political realities with Russia, they also don’t say so publicly —as Hegseth did — because they want to avoid giving Russia the idea that it can dictate who can and cannot join.

Some former Biden administration officials weighed in quickly on X, saying Hegseth had ceded valuable leverage.

“They just surrendered one of the main points of leverage before negotiations even begin,” said former State Department spokesman Matthew Miller.

No new US aid for Ukraine

Hegseth also did not announce any new US aid to Ukraine. “We’re also here today to directly and unambiguously express that stark strategic realities prevent the United States of America from being primarily focused on the security of Europe,” he said.

Hegseth’s comments did not necessarily come as a surprise to the US’ allies. NATO and the European Union had been bracing for the US to step back significantly from the leading role it had been playing since 2022 in providing and coordinating military aid to Ukraine. That is why NATO set up its own security mechanism to help coordinate military assistance to the country.

From left, United States Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, Britian's Chief of Defense Admiral Sir Tony Radakinleft, Britain's Defense Secretary John Healey, Ukraine's Defense Minister Rustem Umerov, and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte attend a meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact group at NATO headquarters in Brussels, Belgium, on Wednesday. Omar Havana/AP

“We hear your concerns on stepping up for Ukraine, and we hear your concerns on stepping up for European security,” UK Defense Secretary John Healey said in response. “We are and we will.”

The UK may quicky be supplanting the US as Ukraine’s closest western ally. It chaired the meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group for the first time on Wednesday, and Ukrainian defense minister Rustem Umerov issued a lengthy readout of his meeting with Healey at NATO on Wednesday, accompanied by a photo of the pair shaking hands and smiling.

In contrast, Umerov’s description of his meeting with Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth was one sentence long, accompanied by a photo of them standing side by side, without shaking hands.

And NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said earlier on Wednesday that he “agrees” with Trump “that we must equalize security assistance to Ukraine. But to really change the trajectory of the conflict, we need to do even more.”

And Dutch Defense Minister Ruben Brekelmans told CNN that “I do agree that as Europe, we should do much more in order to defend our own continent and to safeguard our own security.”

But the US defense secretary’s comments were the clearest articulation yet of how the Trump administration intends to try to decouple itself from Europe and make the Ukraine conflict a fully European problem. It’s a stark departure from the approach of the Biden administration, which made the transatlantic alliance and support for Ukraine the centerpiece of its foreign policy.

The alliance’s smaller, eastern flank countries — those closest to Russia — are particularly worried about the US stepping back.

Latvian Defense Minister Andris Sprūds told CNN that the US is “absolutely indispensable” when it comes to “constraining and containing the aggressor country, Russia.”

Reiterated Trump’s call for allies to up defense spending

Hegseth also echoed calls by Trump for allies to increase their defense spending to 5% of their GDP, instead of 2%, saying the latter is “not enough.” A senior NATO official told reporters on Wednesday that the “the ask by the US for European allies … to invest more is nothing new,” and agreed that 2% is too low.

Toward the end of his remarks, Hegseth emphasized that the US “remains committed to the NATO alliance and to the defense partnership with Europe. Full stop. But the United States will no longer tolerate an imbalanced relationship which encourages dependency.”

The European defense official said after Hegseth spoke that there is a general feeling of relief that the US is not planning to pull out of NATO altogether. The sentiment is that as long as the US remains a member of the alliance, there will at least be some room to negotiate on the specifics of the US’ support for Europe and Ukraine.

For now, the US is not halting the military aid to Ukraine that is already flowing from aid packages announced during the previous administration.

But as has long been the case, Ukraine still needs more armored vehicles, long range-weapons and air defense systems, the NATO official told CNN. And Hegseth gave no indications on Wednesday that the US will continue dipping into US military stockpiles to send weapons and equipment to Ukraine, a process known as Presidential Drawdown Authority.

The Department of Defense has not yet done so with the nearly $4 billion in congressionally authorized funds that were left over from the previous administration.

Hegseth also did not outline what a possible negotiated settlement between Ukraine and Russia might look like. In an interview with Britain’s The Guardian published Tuesday, Zelensky suggested swapping territory seized by Ukrainian forces inside Russia’s Kursk region for Ukrainian territory seized by Russia—but Moscow swiftly rejected the idea.

“Russia has never discussed and will not discuss the topic of exchanging its territory,” Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said on Wednesday.

As CNN reported on Tuesday, there is a hardening consensus within the administration that Putin, rather than Zelensky, will be the main hurdle to getting both sides to the negotiating table. European officials similarly said they’ve seen no signs that Putin is willing to engage in meaningful negotiations.