Latest news with #JohnF.KennedyCentreforthePerformingArts
India Today
23-07-2025
- Entertainment
- India Today
Republicans move to rename Kennedy Centre Opera House after Melania Trump
US House Republicans have moved to rename the opera house at Washington's Centre for the Performing Arts after First LadyMelaniaTrump, further stamping the Trump brand on America's cultural a move during a Tuesday hearing on the 2026 budget, the Republican-controlled House Appropriations Committee advanced a proposal to rechristen the 2,364-seat venue as the 'First Lady Melania Trump Opera House.'advertisementIdaho Republican Rep. Mike Simpson, who introduced the amendment, described it as 'an excellent way to recognise her support and commitment to promoting the arts.' The name change was tucked into a broader funding bill for the Department of the Interior and the Environmental Protection Agency — and is the latest flashpoint in President Donald Trump's increasingly aggressive campaign to reshape the Kennedy Centre in his own image, reports this year, Trump fired several board members, installed himself as chairman, and replaced the long-serving president with loyalist Richard Grenell. He also appointed chief of staff Susie Wiles, deputy chief Dan Scavino, and Second Lady Usha Vance as who has accused the centre of being 'too woke,' is eager to put his stamp on one of the capital's most revered cultural June, Trump drew a mix of cheers and boos during his appearance at an opening-night performance of the musical Les opera house renaming push is part of a broader Republican effort to lionise Trump's legacy in his second term. Other proposals include renaming Dulles International Airport after him, putting his face on the $100 bill, adding him to Mount Rushmore, establishing a Trump national holiday, and rebranding Washington's Metro as the 'Trump Train.'However, any such change must pass both chambers of Congress, and with Democrats in a strong enough position to block provisions in the Senate — where 60 votes are needed for spending bills — the final fate of any change remains uncertain.- EndsWith inputs from AFPMust Watch
Straits Times
12-06-2025
- Business
- Straits Times
Trump met with cheers, boos at Kennedy Centre as he attends ‘Les Miserables'
US President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump attend "Les Miserables" opening night at the Kennedy Centre in Washington DC on June 11. PHOTO: REUTERS Trump met with cheers, boos at Kennedy Centre as he attends 'Les Miserables' WASHINGTON - US President Donald Trump was greeted with a high-volume mix of boos and cheers on June 11 as he took his seat for his first production at the Kennedy Centre, the performing arts facility he has subjected to a conservative takeover. The mixed reception for Mr Trump and his wife Melania as they arrived in the presidential box before a performance of 'Les Miserables' reflected the heightened emotions that have been unleashed by his overhaul of the cultural centre. Mr Trump has pushed out its former chairman, fired its longtime president and pledged to overhaul an institution that he criticised as too liberal. Ticket sales have fallen since. There were many empty seats in the 2,300-capacity theatre shortly before the show started, even though the event was sold out. Mr Trump's first appearance was meant to boost fundraising for the John F. Kennedy Centre for the Performing Arts, and he said donors raised over US$10 million (S$12.83 million). 'We're going to make it incredible. We have all the funding. We raised a lot tonight, and we'll put in a lot of money to bring it back to the highest level,' a tuxedo-clad Mr Trump told reporters after other administration officials arrived on the red carpet. Still, overall year-on-year subscription revenue was down 36 per cent to US$2.8 million as of early June for next season, which begins in the autumn, according to one person briefed on the data. Theatre subscriptions, normally a major revenue driver for the centre, were down 82 per cent. A Kennedy Centre official said the comparisons reflected in those subscription sales were not accurate because the centre had launched its subscription renewal campaign later in 2025 than 2024. 'Our renewal campaign is just kicking off,' Ms Kim Cooper, senior vice-president of marketing, said in a statement. Ms Cooper also noted the centre had launched a new subscription option that allowed customers to 'mix and match' genres, and said more announcements of shows were coming. The Kennedy Centre depends on revenue from tickets and subscriptions as well as donations to operate. Ticket sales for 'Les Miserables' have been robust, according to another Kennedy Centre official. Donors who pay US$100,000 to US$2 million got to attend a reception before the show, receive a photo with the president and be seated in good locations in the theatre. 'We've raised a little more than US$10 million for tonight, which is pretty remarkable, and it's an organisation that needs the money right now,' said Mr Ric Grenell, a close Mr Trump ally and former ambassador to Germany who now heads the Kennedy Centre. Under his leadership, the centre has sought to add more conservative-leaning programming, including a show that Mr Grenell has described as a celebration of the birth of Christ. Mr Trump said he particularly enjoyed 'Les Miserables,' a musical about citizens rising up against their government. 'I've seen it many times, it's one of my favourites,' he said. Mr Trump's appearance comes just days after he sent US Marines and the National Guard to quell protests against his administration's immigration raids in Los Angeles. Along with the first lady, Vice-President JD Vance, Attorney-General Pam Bondi and Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr also attended. VMr ance was likewise met with boos when he attended a Kennedy Centre show with his wife earlier in 2025. Mr Trump has zeroed in on drag shows to argue that the Kennedy Centre had lost its way before he took office. But multiple upcoming musicals on the Kennedy Centre's agenda include characters dressed in drag, such as 'Mrs. Doubtfire' and 'Chicago.' Other musicals have pulled out, according to a former Kennedy Centre official. REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Yahoo
18-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Trump says Xi Jinping will visit Washington in 'not too distant future'
US President Donald Trump on Monday said his Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinping, would visit Washington in the "not too distant future" following recent reports that the leaders were considering a summit as early as April amid their countries' tit-for-tat tariffs dispute. Trump made the comment while discussing beautification efforts in the American capital during a board meeting at the John F. Kennedy Centre for the Performing Arts of which he assumed the role of chairman last month after firing the previous board members appointed by his predecessor, Joe Biden. "Here it's really bad, because it's old and bad, and it looks terrible," Trump said of Washington's highways, adding that Xi would be "coming in the not too distant future". Do you have questions about the biggest topics and trends from around the world? Get the answers with SCMP Knowledge, our new platform of curated content with explainers, FAQs, analyses and infographics brought to you by our award-winning team. Remarking that Washington looked "very good" during his first presidential term, Trump suggested the city should be cleaned up, particularly removing homeless encampments and graffiti in preparation for Xi's potential visit. Chinese President Xi Jinping applauds at the closing session of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on March 10. Photo: Reuters alt=Chinese President Xi Jinping applauds at the closing session of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on March 10. Photo: Reuters> Earlier this month, the Post cited multiple sources in reporting that Trump could visit China as early as next month, although dates were yet to be finalised. Trump was said to have wanted Xi to visit his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida, where the two leaders had previously met in 2017. However, Beijing preferred a more formal setting, either in Washington or by inviting Trump to China. The Wall Street Journal further reported that officials from both sides were in discussions about a potential "birthday summit" in June, the month in which the two leaders were born. Since taking office, Trump has intensified his tariffs on Chinese imports as he has implemented varying duties on Mexico and Canada in response to trade imbalances, illegal immigration and the US fentanyl crisis. While Mexico City and Ottawa have negotiated with the US, Beijing has retaliated, levying 10 to 15 per cent tariffs on American farm products and sanctioned some American companies. Earlier this month, China's foreign affairs ministry in a statement said "if war is what the US wants, be it a tariff war, a trade war or any other type of war, we're ready to fight till the end". In the past, Trump has often described Xi as a "friend" with whom he "got along very well" in his first presidential term, saying the relationship got derailed after the coronavirus pandemic. Last December, Trump said the US and China could "solve all of the world's problems together". After taking office on January 21, Trump signed an executive order granting Chinese-owned social media giant TikTok a grace period until April 5 to find an American buyer after the US Congress passed a ban on the platform citing national security concerns and the US Supreme Court upheld it. However, in his first presidential term, Trump initiated a trade war with China, accusing it of unfair policy practices. He signing an executive order in 2018 that added up to 25 per cent tariffs on Chinese imports worth US$300 billion. To ease the conflict, the two sides in 2020 signed what was called the phase-one deal. China promised to buy American exports worth US$500 billion over the next two years. However, the deal faltered after Biden took office in 2021. Of late, Trump and his trade officials have shown a willingness to assess and revive the phase-one deal. Meanwhile, he has announced additional reciprocal tariffs on all America's trading partners, effective April 2. The US trade deficit with China peaked in 2018 at US$419 billion. Last year, it totalled nearly US$300 billion, up more than 5 per cent from 2023. This article originally appeared in the South China Morning Post (SCMP), the most authoritative voice reporting on China and Asia for more than a century. For more SCMP stories, please explore the SCMP app or visit the SCMP's Facebook and Twitter pages. Copyright © 2025 South China Morning Post Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved. Copyright (c) 2025. South China Morning Post Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved.
South China Morning Post
17-03-2025
- Politics
- South China Morning Post
Trump is ending Secret Service protection for Biden's adult children
US President Donald Trump said on Monday he was ending 'immediately' the Secret Service protection details assigned to Democrat Joe Biden's adult children, which the former president had extended to July before leaving office in January. Advertisement The Republican president on social media objected to what he said were 18 agents assigned to Hunter Biden's protective detail while in South Africa this week. He said Ashley Biden has 13 agents assigned to her detail and that she too 'will be taken off the list'. There was no immediate reaction from the former president's office. Former presidents and their spouses receive lifelong Secret Service protection under federal law, but the protection afforded to their immediate families over the age of 16 ends when they leave office, though both Trump and Biden extended the details for their children for six months before leaving office. While touring the John F. Kennedy Centre for the Performing Arts in Washington earlier on Monday, a reporter asked Trump if he would revoke the protection for the former president's son. Advertisement 'Well, we have done that with many. I would say if there are 18 with Hunter Biden, that will be something I'll look at this afternoon,' Trump said, who added this was the first time he heard about the matter.
South China Morning Post
17-03-2025
- Politics
- South China Morning Post
Trump says Xi Jinping will visit Washington in ‘not too distant future'
US President Donald Trump on Monday said his Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinping , would visit Washington in the 'not too distant future' following recent reports that the leaders were considering a summit as early as April amid their countries' tit-for-tat tariffs dispute. Advertisement Trump made the comment while discussing beautification efforts in the American capital during a board meeting at the John F. Kennedy Centre for the Performing Arts of which he assumed the role of chairman last month after firing the previous board members appointed by his predecessor, Joe Biden 'Here it's really bad, because it's old and bad, and it looks terrible,' Trump said of Washington's highways, adding that Xi would be 'coming in the not too distant future'. Remarking that Washington looked 'very good' during his first presidential term, Trump suggested the city should be cleaned up, particularly removing homeless encampments and graffiti in preparation for Xi's potential visit. Chinese President Xi Jinping applauds at the closing session of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on March 10. Photo: Reuters Earlier this month, the Post cited multiple sources in reporting that Trump could visit China as early as next month , although dates were yet to be finalised. Advertisement Trump was said to have wanted Xi to visit his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida, where the two leaders had previously met in 2017. However, Beijing preferred a more formal setting, either in Washington or by inviting Trump to China.
