The board that oversees the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts is the Board of Trustees, which currently includes a mix of presidential appointees, congressional members, and ex officio federal officials, with President Donald Trump serving as board chair.

How the Board Is Structured

  • The Kennedy Center is governed by a Board of Trustees established by federal law, rather than a private nonprofit board only.
  • The board includes:
    • Members appointed by the U.S. president for fixed terms
    • Members of Congress designated by House and Senate leadership
    • Ex officio members such as the Librarian of Congress and the Secretary of State.

Current Leadership

  • Donald Trump was elected chair of the Kennedy Center’s Board of Trustees in early 2025, replacing longtime chair David M. Rubenstein.
  • Richard Grenell serves as the Kennedy Center’s president under this new leadership configuration.

Notable Presidential Appointees

Recent presidential appointments to the Board of Trustees have included several prominent Trump allies and donors.

Some of the named appointees include:

  • Donald J. Trump (also serving as chair)
  • Susie Wiles (White House chief of staff)
  • Dan Scavino
  • Mindy Levine
  • Lynda Lomangino
  • Allison Lutnick
  • Usha Vance (second lady)
  • Pamela Gross
  • Cheri Summerall
  • Sergio Gor
  • Emilia May Fanjul
  • Patricia Duggan

These are in addition to other sitting trustees whose terms predate Trump’s recent appointments and who may still be serving until their statutory terms expire.

Important Caveats

  • The full, official roster can change as terms expire, resignations occur, or new appointments are made.
  • For the most precise and current list—down to every trustee name and term end date—the best source is the Kennedy Center’s own official Board of Trustees page or recent federal appointment notices.

Information gathered from public data available on the internet and portrayed here.