The Kennedy Center’s Board of Trustees currently includes a mix of presidential appointees, congressional appointees, and ex officio members from the federal government.

How the board is structured

  • The board is made up of 65 trustees in total when fully appointed.
  • Members include individuals appointed by the U.S. president for six‑year terms, as well as members of Congress and key federal officials serving ex officio (such as the Librarian of Congress and the Secretary of State).
  • The board oversees policy, finances, and the artistic and institutional direction of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.

Key presidential appointees and leadership

  • President Donald Trump was elected chair of the Kennedy Center Board of Trustees in early 2025, succeeding longtime chair David M. Rubenstein.
  • At that time, 14 new presidentially appointed trustees were announced, including Donald J. Trump himself, Susie Wiles, Dan Scavino, Allison Lutnick, Lynda Lomangino, Mindy Levine, Usha Vance, Pamela Gross, John Falconetti, Cheri Summerall, Sergio Gor, Emilia May Fanjul, Patricia Duggan, and Dana Blumb.

Other notable board members

  • In addition to presidential appointees, the board includes prominent cultural and philanthropic figures who have been appointed in prior administrations and whose terms may still be active, though exact current membership can change with resignations or new appointments.
  • Some high‑profile trustees or affiliated leaders have recently stepped down or distanced themselves in response to governance changes, which has contributed to public and media attention on who sits on the board at any given moment.

How to see the up‑to‑date list

Because appointments, resignations, and term expirations change the board’s composition, the only authoritative and current roster is maintained by the Kennedy Center itself.

  • The Kennedy Center’s official website lists the current Board of Trustees and is updated as new members are appointed or leave.
  • For the most accurate “who is on the Kennedy Center board” answer at this moment, checking that official roster is necessary, especially given the recent wave of new appointments and leadership changes.

Quick note

If you’re looking at this as a trending or political topic, much of the recent discussion has focused on President Trump’s role as board chair and the cluster of new appointees closely tied to his administration and political circle, which has prompted significant debate in news outlets and online forums.

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