Kennedy Center President Richard Grenell accused major news organizations this week of acting as political activists rather than neutral observers, claiming they are actively encouraging artists to boycott performances at the newly rebranded Trump-Kennedy Center.
Grenell, who was appointed earlier this year following a shake-up of the Kennedy Center’s board ordered by Donald Trump, made the allegation Tuesday in a post on X. Grenell said he had been contacted by performers already booked at the center who told him they were receiving messages from national media outlets urging them to pull out in protest.
“I have just been informed by some booked artists that they are receiving emails from @CNN and @washingtonpost encouraging them to boycott the Trump Kennedy Center,” Grenell wrote, naming CNN and The Washington Post. He went on to accuse what he called the “legacy media” of behaving like “left wing activists,” saying they are no longer hiding their political motivations.
A day earlier, Grenell leveled similar criticism at The New York Times, accusing the outlet of “celebrating people boycotting the Arts.” Grenell did not provide evidence to support his claims that reporters were directly contacting artists to push cancellations, but framed the situation as part of a broader effort to politicize cultural institutions.
The accusations come amid a growing backlash from some performers who oppose the Kennedy Center’s new leadership direction. The unrest began after Trump appointed a slate of loyalists to the board in February, a move that ultimately resulted in Grenell being named president. Earlier this month, the board said it had unanimously approved adding Trump’s name to the federally protected memorial, rebranding it as the Trump-Kennedy Center.
I have just been informed by some booked artists that they are receiving emails from @CNN and The @washingtonpost encouraging them to boycott the Trump Kennedy Center.
The legacy media are left wing activists – and they are open about it.
— Richard Grenell (@RichardGrenell) December 30, 2025
That decision has sparked protests from certain artists who argue the institution has been politicized. Several high-profile cancellations followed. On Monday, the jazz supergroup The Cookers withdrew from two scheduled New Year’s Eve concerts. The move came just a week after drummer Chuck Redd canceled a Christmas Eve performance.
Grenell responded forcefully, dismissing the withdrawals as a “political stunt” and demanding $1 million in damages. He argued that artists breaking contracts for political reasons harm the institution and the audiences who purchased tickets in good faith.
Supporters of Grenell say the episode underscores what they view as a double standard in the arts world, where conservative figures are routinely targeted while progressive activism is applauded. They argue that media coverage of the cancellations has fueled the controversy rather than reporting on it objectively.
Critics of the media also point to Grenell’s broader claim that major outlets are no longer simply covering the story but are allegedly intervening behind the scenes. In that telling, journalists are portrayed not as neutral chroniclers but as participants in an organized pressure campaign against a Trump-affiliated institution.
The Kennedy Center, long billed as a nonpartisan cultural landmark, has become a flashpoint in the larger debate over politics and public institutions. While some artists have chosen to protest the rebranding, Grenell has made clear he believes the backlash is being amplified — and possibly orchestrated — by a media establishment hostile to Trump and his allies.
As the controversy continues, the clash highlights deeper divisions over culture, politics, and the role of the press. For Grenell and his supporters, the question is no longer just about a name on a building, but whether powerful media organizations are using their influence to pressure artists and undermine an institution tied to a president they oppose.
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