Ben Folds Admits It's Hard to Reason Why He Didn't Stay at Kennedy Center to Combat Trump
Folds served as the first artistic adviser for the NSO from 2019 to 2025, but he resigned following the Trump administration's takeover of the Kennedy Center in February.
More from TheWrap
Ben Folds Admits It's Hard to Reason Why He Didn't Stay at Kennedy Center to Combat Trump | Video
111 BBC Journalists Blast Broadcaster for 'Censorship' of Gaza Coverage, Call for Robbie Gibb's Board Removal
CBS' John Dickerson Says Trump Settlement Jeopardizes Network Holding 'Power to Account After Paying It Millions' | Video
Elizabeth Warren Rallies for 'Full Investigation' Into Trump-'60 Minutes' Settlement, Says Paramount Has Refused to Answer Inquiries
'I know I did the right thing,' Folds said.
The musician explained that while he's 'not used to messaging this sort of thing,' he's spent several years advocating for arts funding in the United States, but he could no longer remain in the role at the Kennedy Center because 'what I saw was an abuse of power, a very extreme one.'
'There was why I resigned, and then there's kind of the other question that I think people want answered, which is, 'Why not stay?'' he shared.
Watch the musician's interview below:
'People might not realize how the arts work in the government, but it's very separated from the art itself. The government, artists and politics is separated with a firewall from what we say, how we say it, who says it — that's up to the people,' he continued.
'And the firewall was breached in the biggest way. I mean, [Trump] let go of the board, which was bipartisan. Once the board was gone, installed loyalists, the loyalists came in and voted in — guess who — Trump to be the chairman, the head of the Kennedy Center.'
The situation was 'alarming,' Folds said, 'because now he can put, or they can put their fist on the scale of what is programmed, who gets to speak and who doesn't get to speak at our greatest arts institution, the Kennedy Center.'
'The thing I have a hard time explaining to people is why not stay and sort of fight it out,' Folds admitted, turning to MeidasTouch co-founder and interviewer for the video Ben Meiselas. 'And I think I can really use some coaching on this because I know I did the right thing.'
Meiselas agreed. 'My thought is, is that you don't want to be used as a puppet for the regime, and they're going to use someone like you with your distinguished career,' he said. 'And they're going to say, look, Ben Fold supports me, you know, take a look at what Trump does.'
'What he loves the most is celebrity,' Meiselas continued. 'And when he just has Kid Rock over and over and over again, he wants Ben Folds to say, look, here's an artist with kind of deep intellectual roots who supports me, and if Ben Folds supports you, you should too. So that's my belief about why you have to leave because you're just used as a prop.'
Trump was elected as Kennedy Center Board Chair in February. 'The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts announces executive leadership changes, effective immediately. At a Kennedy Center Board meeting this afternoon, the Board elected President of the United States Donald J. Trump as Kennedy Center Board Chair, replacing former Chair David M. Rubenstein. The Board also terminated Kennedy Center President Deborah F. Rutter's contract and announced Richard Grenell as interim Kennedy Center President,' the Center announced in a press release at the time.
'Fourteen new Kennedy Center Board of Trustee members were also announced today including President Donald J. Trump, 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, Dana Blumberg, bringing the total number of board members to 31.'
The post Ben Folds Admits It's Hard to Reason Why He Didn't Stay at Kennedy Center to Combat Trump | Video appeared first on TheWrap.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
CNBC
13 minutes ago
- CNBC
Revoking de minimis will lead to diminishing of US in global trade: Hinrich Foundation
Deborah Elms, head of trade policy at Hinrich Foundation, says the end of the 'de minimis' exemption under Trump's big spending bill will hurt American businesses and consumers.
Yahoo
24 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Trump Pretends Not to Hear Difficult Question on Texas Deaths
President Donald Trump was hearing reporters just fine until one of them asked him about federal cuts in the aftermath of the devastating floods in Texas. Trump spoke to reporters in New Jersey on Sunday after flash floods wreaked havoc in central Texas over the weekend, killing at least 80 people and sending over 40 others missing. Critics were quick to blame the calamitous toll on the administration's overhaul of the federal government, which included staff cuts at the National Weather Service. 'Democrats are blaming your federal cuts for the deaths over in Texas,' one reporter, who could be heard audibly projecting their voice, asked Trump. Though the president leaned in to hear better, he decided to wave off the question. 'I can't hear you,' he said, as he moved on to another reporter. Asked later on if he had plans to look into whether the cuts at the National Weather Service and the Federal Emergency Management Agency left key positions vacant, Trump and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick shook their heads. 'They didn't,' Trump said. 'I'll tell you: You look at that water situation, that was really the Biden setup. That was not our setup. But I wouldn't blame Biden for it either; I would just say this is a hundred-year catastrophe, and it's just so horrible to watch.' Trump also appeared unsure when asked whether the federal government should hire back any of the meteorologists who were gutted in the administration's slash-and-burn approach to downsizing. 'I wouldn't know that. I really wouldn't. I would think not,' he said. 'This was a thing that happened in seconds. Nobody expected it, nobody saw it. Very talented people are there and they didn't see it.' The National Weather Service, however, has said it conducted forecast briefings and issued warnings hours before the floods came. 'Flash Flood Warnings were also issued on the night of July 3 and in the early morning of July 4, giving preliminary lead times of more than three hours before flash flooding conditions occurred,' a spokesperson for the agency told the Daily Beast. Trump said he plans to visit Texas 'probably on Friday' to avoid getting in the way of local authorities responding to the situation. 'We're working very close with representatives from Texas,' he said. 'And it's a horrible thing that took place, absolutely horrible.'
Yahoo
27 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Chris Haynes Reveals Damian Lillard's Reaction On Getting Waived, New Details Suggest He Was Planning To Leave Bucks Next Summer
Chris Haynes Reveals Damian Lillard's Reaction On Getting Waived, New Details Suggest He Was Planning To Leave Bucks Next Summer originally appeared on Fadeaway World. Damian Lillard was blindsided, and he's not alone. Advertisement After the Milwaukee Bucks made the stunning decision to waive Lillard and stretch his $113 million contract over five years in order to sign Myles Turner, NBA insider Chris Haynes dropped a series of bombshells that peeled back the curtain on how it all unfolded and how it's reverberating throughout the locker room. "I spoke with Damian Lillard briefly, and, you know, he was surprised. He was surprised. The Bucks did recently go out there to Portland to meet with Dame, but they did not tell Dame that this was coming. He had no clue about that as well. I was told that Dame found out about the situation just like everybody else found out." "So, you know, you could read into that as you may, but at the end of the day, he's going to be a free agent, first time ever in his career. He's going to have the opportunity to choose his own team." "And, you know, he's been working out. I've been seeing videos of him working out, rehabbing right now. So he's in a good place mentally. But there's definitely things that could have been done and handled differently, for sure." Advertisement That alone has sent shockwaves through the NBA world. Lillard, a future Hall of Famer and one of the league's most respected veterans, was not even given the courtesy of a heads-up before his abrupt release. This wasn't just a cap-clearing move; it was a cold, calculated departure from the loyalty-based culture Milwaukee used to pride itself on. Marc J Spear has since confirmed that Lillard likely would have left the Bucks next summer anyway had he reached free agency under healthier circumstances. "Don't feel bad for Damian Lillard. This is a win-win. Dame had a player option for next summer that he was considering not exercising. No secret living away from family in Milwaukee was a challenge. So he gets his $ and is now an unrestricted free agent free to go where HE wants." Meanwhile, Giannis Antetokounmpo is said to be 'not pleased' with how the franchise dumped his co-star. Advertisement Haynes reported that Antetokounmpo 'didn't like how it was handled' and has been 'weighing his options' regarding his future with Milwaukee, again stirring up those annual whispers about whether the Greek Freak might finally explore other teams. In the immediate aftermath, it's clear Milwaukee prioritized cap maneuvering and long-term roster fit. By stretching Lillard's $112.6 million deal, they'll now carry $22.5 million in dead cap space for the next five years. That's a significant hit and shows just how desperate they were to reshape the team around Giannis. In return, they acquired Myles Turner, a 28-year-old elite rim protector and floor spacer coming off a season where he averaged 15.6 points and shot a career-best 39.6% from three. Turner gives Giannis the defensive anchor and frontcourt partner he's lacked since Brook Lopez's prime. But at what cost? Lillard's Bucks tenure ends with bittersweet disappointment. After arriving in 2023 with championship hopes, he battled injuries, chemistry issues, and playoff heartbreak. He averaged 24.6 points and 7.0 assists but never got to show his full impact in the postseason due to health setbacks. Advertisement Now, his departure leaves behind more than just cap room. It leaves questions about culture, trust, and whether the Bucks just made a win-now gamble that could haunt them later. Related: Ranking The 5 Best Destinations For Damian Lillard After Getting Waived By The Bucks This story was originally reported by Fadeaway World on Jul 1, 2025, where it first appeared.
