Culture
13 Feb 25

Ben Folds resigns from his role as National Symphony Orchestra's artistic advisor after Trump's Kennedy Center take-over

Donald Trump and Ben Folds.

President Deborah F. Rutter has also departed the institution, as has Renée Fleming and Shonda Rhimes.

Ben Folds has resigned from his position as National Symphony Orchestra's artistic advisor after Donald Trump has taken over the John F. Kennedy Center For The Performing Arts.

The resignation follows Trump's statement that he would fire multiple board members at the Kennedy Center and planned to install himself as chair.

Folds shared a statement on the events on social media: “Given the developments at the Kennedy Center, effective today I am resigning as artistic advisor to the NSO. Not for me.”

He continued: “It’s been a wonderful 8 years working with Kennedy Center President Deb Rutter, fellow artistic advisor Renee Fleming, NSO artistic administrator Justin Ellis, and the entire NSO staff, encouraging thousands of fresh new audiences to appreciate the symphonic music. Mostly, and above all, I will miss the musicians of our nation’s symphony orchestra – just the best!”

On Monday, Trump appointed his former ambassador to Germany and acting Director of National Intelligence, Richard Grenell, as the center’s interim executive director. Trump promised that the center would no longer provide a showcase for “Anti-American propaganda".

Deborah F. Rutter, who has served as the Kennedy Center’s president since 2014 also announced her departure. However, according to the New York Times, she was fired.

She said in a statement: “The goal of the Kennedy Center has been to live up to our namesake, serving as a beacon for the world and ensuring our work reflects America.

“I depart my position proud of all we accomplished to meet that ambition. From the art on our stages to the students we have impacted in classrooms across America, everything we have done at the Kennedy Center has been about uplifting the human spirit in service of strengthening the culture of our great nation.”

Several other resignations followed the announcement, including fellow artistic advisor Renée Fleming out of respect for the two leaders, as well as board member Shonda Rhimes.