The labor unions representing staff at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C., have broken their silence regarding Donald Trump's recent announcement concerning the facility's future.
The Kennedy Center Arts Workers United is comprised of several arts unions, including Actors’ Equity Association, the American Federation of Musicians, the American Guild of Musical Artists, the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees, and the Stage Directors and Choreographers Society, representing performers and behind-the-scenes staff members across the various organizations.
The collective issued a joint statement in response to the president's recently announced plan to shutter the historic performing arts center for the better part of the next two years. In a statement on his Truth Social platform, Trump said he had "determined that The Trump Kennedy Center, if temporarily closed for Construction, Revitalization, and Complete Rebuilding, can be, without question, the finest Performing Arts Facility of its kind, anywhere in the World."
He wrote, in part, "I have determined that the fastest way to bring The Trump Kennedy Center to the highest level of Success, Beauty, and Grandeur, is to cease Entertainment Operations for an approximately two year period of time, with a scheduled Grand Reopening that will rival and surpass anything that has taken place with respect to such a Facility before."
This news came as a shock to those working there, with the unions' statement adding that there has been no formal notification to those "whose labor sustains the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts."
"A pause in Kennedy Center operations without due regard for those who work there would be harmful for the arts and creative workers in America," the statement continued, revealing that, should the president move forward with his plans and "displace [the] members" of said unions, they will "enforce our contracts and exercise all our rights under the law."
"We expect continued fair pay, enforceable worker protections, and accountability for our members in the event they cannot work due to an operational pause," it concluded, emphasizing the performing arts center's teams' "steadfast" commitment to "bringing to life theatrical, music, opera, dance, and other live artistic performances in the nation’s capital that speak to and resonate with all Americans.”
There Are Contrasting Opinions About the Reason for the Renovations
Maria Shriver, John F. Kennedy's niece, clapped back against Trump's claim, suspecting that the president actually chose to close down the facility after numerous performers pulled out of their scheduled events due to his taking control of the board and programming—not to mention the backlash over rebranding the memorial building with his own name.
“Translation: It has been brought to my attention that due to the name change (but nobody’s telling me it’s due to the name change), but it’s been brought to my attention that entertainers are canceling left and right, and I have determined that since the name change no one wants to perform there any longer,” Shriver quipped. “I’ve determined that due to this change in schedule, it’s best for me to close this center down and rebuild a new center that will bear my name, which will surely get everybody to stop talking about the fact that everybody’s canceling… right?”
Trump's plans are "totally subject to Board approval," but, seeing as he hand-selected the board, it's unlikely he'll face objections on that front. He plans to close the historic venue, which he called "tired, broken, and dilapidated," this coming Independence Day.
Related: Trump Threatens to Sue Trevor Noah After Grammys Joke
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