{"id":2431958,"date":"2025-05-07T13:36:01","date_gmt":"2025-05-07T17:36:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/trump-asks-congress-for-kennedy-center-repair-funds\/"},"modified":"2025-05-07T13:38:15","modified_gmt":"2025-05-07T17:38:15","slug":"trump-asks-congress-for-kennedy-center-repair-funds","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/trump-asks-congress-for-kennedy-center-repair-funds\/","title":{"rendered":"Trump asks Congress for Kennedy Center repair funds"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"float:left\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">16<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Ftrump-asks-congress-for-kennedy-center-repair-funds%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2431958&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>President Donald Trump is set to attend his first show at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts next month since becoming the chairman of its board. He is requesting Congress to provide $256.7 million for the center&#8217;s repairs and operations, a figure significantly higher than the usual federal funding. The president will participate in a fundraiser for the center, where he will not <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/the-powerful-lgbt-group-behind-californias-most-radical-laws-is-setting-its-sights-on-washington\/\" title=\"The Powerful LGBT Group Behind California...s Most Radical Laws Is ...ting Its Sights on Washington\">directly solicit donations<\/a> but will be featured as a special guest. The fundraiser includes <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/inside-the-initial-costs-for-the-democratic-national-convention-in-chicago\/\" title=\"Initial costs for the Democratic National Convention in Chicago.\">sponsorship levels<\/a>, with a $2 million &#8220;gold&#8221; <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >level offering unique benefits<\/a>. Trump&#8217;s attitude towards the Kennedy Center has changed as returning to office, as he expresses the intent to revitalize the venue, calling it an critically important part of Washington, D.C.&#8217;s cultural fabric. However, some lawmakers have voiced concerns about the funding request, citing a lack of transparency in how it would be used. Trump&#8217;s appearance at a performance of *Les Mis\u00e9rables* ties back to his past political rallies, where he has previously used the show&#8217;s music as a theme.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">Trump asks Congress for Kennedy Center repair funds as he plans to attend first show<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_2114212\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p>President <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/donald-trump\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"Donald Trump\">Donald Trump<\/a> will attend his first show next month at the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/kennedy-center\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"Donald Trump\">John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts<\/a> since becoming the chairman of its board, as he pushes for funds from Congress to repair the venue.<\/p>\n<p>Trump will headline a fundraiser for the center, where he will appear &ldquo;as a special guest and friend of the Kennedy Center&rdquo; and will not be &ldquo;directly soliciting donations,&rdquo; prior to the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/barry-manilow-latest-broadway-superstar-to-test-positive-for-covid-19\/\" title=\"Barry Manilow Latest Broadway Superstar to Test Positive for COVID-19\">opening night performance<\/a> of <em>Les Mis&eacute;rables<\/em>, <a href=\"https:\/\/abcnews.go.com\/US\/trump-headline-kennedy-center-fundraiser-month\/story?id=121376345\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"per\">per<\/a> an invitation obtained by ABC News. The fundraiser will reportedly have different sponsorship levels, including a &ldquo;gold&rdquo; level, for those who donate $2 million, featuring a performance box and a photo with the president.<\/p>\n<div class=\"recommended-stories\">\n<h2>Recommended Stories<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/white-house\/3403584\/biden-interview-bbc-trump-approach-ukraine-war-russia\/\">Biden dumps on Trump&#8217;s approach to Ukraine in war against Russia: &#8216;Beneath America&#8217;<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/white-house\/3403650\/vance-russia-asking-for-too-much-end-invasion-ukraine\/\">Vance says Russia is &#8216;asking for too much&#8217; to end invasion of Ukraine<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/white-house\/3403605\/pam-bondi-pizza-judges-deliveries-dick-durbin-ed-martin\/\">Bondi &#8216;learning&#8217; about pizza deliveries to judges that Durbin says are &#8216;threats&#8217;<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>A White House official confirmed the reception and Trump&rsquo;s attendance at the performance of <em>Les Mis&eacute;rables<\/em> next month to the <em>Washington Examiner<\/em>. The Kennedy Center declined to comment.<\/p>\n<p>The president has taken <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/white-house\/3350213\/trump-vows-fix-up-kennedy-center-first-meeting-since-takeover\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"interest\">interest<\/a> in the Kennedy Center since returning to the White House, remaking the board of the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/theyre-laughing-at-you-and-mocking-you-candace-owens-blasts-liberal-elites-over-covid-restrictions-mask-mandates\/\" title=\"\u2018They\u2019re Laughing At You And Mocking You\u2019: Candace Owens Blasts \u2018Liberal Elites\u2019 Over COVID Restrictions, Mask Mandates\">performing arts center<\/a> in Washington. He called for the venue to be repaired and vowed to &ldquo;make it great again.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;I&rsquo;ve been hearing reports, and I thought it was very important to make this good,&rdquo; Trump said at a Kennedy Center board meeting in March. &ldquo;It&rsquo;s a very big part of the fabric of Washington, D.C. We&rsquo;re going to make our capital great again just like we&rsquo;re going to make our country great again.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee approved a <a href=\"https:\/\/transportation.house.gov\/uploadedfiles\/ans_to_ti_committee_print_reconciliation.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"budget proposal\">budget proposal<\/a> last week that would give the Kennedy Center roughly $256.7 million for &ldquo;capital repair and restoration of the building and site,&rdquo; along with &ldquo;operation, maintenance, and security&rdquo; and &ldquo;administrative expenses.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>The funding figure is nearly six times as much the performing arts center typically receives in federal funds. The additional funds were requested by the president, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/2025\/05\/06\/arts\/music\/kennedy-center-budget-congress-trump.html?campaign_id=9&amp;emc=edit_nn_20250507&amp;instance_id=154045&amp;nl=the-morning&amp;regi_id=251287128&amp;segment_id=197460&amp;user_id=cacf4b228705dfb5d9ecd5ab354cf678\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"per\">per<\/a> a report from the <em>New York Times<\/em>.<\/p>\n<p>Rep. Chellie Pingree&nbsp;(D-ME), the ranking member on the House Appropriations Subcommittee on the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies, blasted the request, noting that the Trump administration has axed several arts grants.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;It&rsquo;s hard to ignore the red flags here,&rdquo; Pingree <a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/ChelliePingree\/posts\/the-trump-administration-is-canceling-arts-grants-trying-to-kill-the-nea-and-neh\/1225187852316180\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"said\">said<\/a>. &ldquo;We need transparency on how this money would be spent &mdash; and assurance it&rsquo;s not being used to reward loyalty or bankroll pet projects under the guise of cultural investment.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/white-house\/3401202\/trump-first-100-days-party-billed-official-anything-but\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"A PARTY FOR TRUMP&rsquo;S FIRST 100 DAYS WAS BILLED AS &lsquo;OFFICIAL&rsquo; &mdash; IT WAS ANYTHING BUT THAT\">A PARTY FOR TRUMP&rsquo;S FIRST 100 DAYS WAS BILLED AS &lsquo;OFFICIAL&rsquo; &mdash; IT WAS ANYTHING BUT THAT<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Trump&rsquo;s attendance at a <em>Les Mis&eacute;rables<\/em> performance will not be the first time the show has made an appearance in his political career.<\/p>\n<p>During a rally in Miami ahead of the 2016 presidential election, Trump <a href=\"https:\/\/www.politico.com\/story\/2016\/09\/donald-trump-les-deplorables-228311\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"walked out\">walked out<\/a> to the song &ldquo;Can You Hear the People Sing&rdquo; from the play. He also stood in front of a video board showing an image invoking the play&rsquo;s artwork with the text &ldquo;Les Deplorables,&rdquo; mocking rival Hillary Clinton&rsquo;s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/337748\/hillary-half-of-trump-supporters-are-in-basket-of-deplorables\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"insult\">insult<\/a> toward his supporters.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p> <script data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/cdn-cgi\/scripts\/5c5dd728\/cloudflare-static\/email-decode.min.js\"><\/script><script>!function(){var g=window;g.googletag=g.googletag||{},g.googletag.cmd=g.googletag.cmd||[],g.googletag.cmd.push(function(){g.googletag.pubads().setTargeting(\"has-featured-video\",\"true\")})}();<\/script><script>var _bp=_bp||[];_bp.push({\"div\":\"Brid_2114212\",\"obj\":{\"id\":\"27789\",\"width\":\"1280\",\"height\":\"720\",\"stickyDirection\":\"below\",\"video\":\"2114212\"}});<\/script><script defer src=\"https:\/\/services.brid.tv\/player\/build\/brid.min.js\"><\/script><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Trump seeks Congress funds for Kennedy Center repairs while attending his first show there next month<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2638,"featured_media":2431959,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/trump-kennedy-center-march-2025.webp","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651,538],"tags":[4402,51601,50057,54790,3634],"class_list":["post-2431958","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","category-washington-examiner","tag-congress","tag-government-funding-2","tag-kennedy-center","tag-repair-funds","tag-trump"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/trump-kennedy-center-march-2025.webp","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2431958","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2638"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2431958"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2431958\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2431962,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2431958\/revisions\/2431962"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2431959"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2431958"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2431958"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2431958"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}