Latest news with #King'sTrustGlobalGala
Newsweek
02-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Newsweek
Musician Nile Rodgers on Trump's America: 'So Strange Right Now'
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Musician Nile Rodgers questioned President Donald Trump's decision to become chairman of The Kennedy Center, telling Newsweek: "America is so strange right now." Rodgers was the star performer at the King's Trust Global Gala in New York on Thursday night, getting big name celebrities on their feet and dancing with his disco hits including Le Freak. And on the red carpet, he told Newsweek his candid thoughts on where America stands just more than 100 days into Trump's second term as president. He questioned the president's decision to fire multiple board members of The Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., before taking on the role of chairman. "How does a person who has nothing to do with art find themselves in charge of, artistically, what we're going to say. That would be like me trying to be an artist who's designing things that have absolutely nothing to do with my background. I don't feel like I'm qualified. That would be like me running for public office." He continued: "I do what I do because it's who I am as a human being. And the president of the United States being in charge of the arts? Especially he ever been known for that? Just think about that question. You know, America is so strange right now. It's hard for me to tell if there's love for anyone which is bizarre because I'm usually the most optimistic person in the world." Musician Nile Rodgers attends The King's Trust 4th Annual Global Gala, in New York City on May 1. Musician Nile Rodgers attends The King's Trust 4th Annual Global Gala, in New York City on May 1."It's not America as a whole because I just came back from North Carolina and I had the nicest time. People were so kind, they were so loving, and it didn't seem like politics were on their mind. It just felt like they were the way that people used to be and it's just heartbreaking to me because I think people should be kind," Rodgers said. The King's Trust is King Charles III's most successful charity, founded in the 1970s to help disadvantaged young people into work. Rodgers was a disco icon with band Chic and also produced major hits by Madonna including Like a Virgin and Material Girl. He gave a glowing account of his experiences of the king: "I've done so much and he's done so much. He's just a charitable, wonderful human being. Every time I've met him, every time I've worked with him, it's just been pure joy. Regardless of what you believe in, we should just have dignity that we should be cool and that's what the king is. Every time I'm with him he is the coolest and he's always engaged." He continued: "Every time I see people around him, he's interested in what they have to say even though his troop is leading him through the crowd he still stops and talks to people. You have to be a real person to be that way. I don't think that that's made up, I don't think he's trying to have a great public image I think he's just that person." Jack Royston is chief royal correspondent for Newsweek, based in London. You can find him on X, formerly Twitter, at @jack_royston and read his stories on Newsweek's The Royals Facebook page. Do you have a question about Charles and Queen Camilla, Prince William and Princess Kate, Meghan Markle and Prince Harry, or their family that you would like our experienced royal correspondents to answer? Email royals@ We'd love to hear from you.
Newsweek
02-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Newsweek
Lionel Richie Says King's Charity 'Winning' Battle for Kids Dreams
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Lionel Richie said King Charles III's charity is "winning" during a red carpet gala in New York that raised $2.5 million for the organization. Beauty entrepreneur Charlotte Tillbury, Vogue U.K. editor Edward Enninful and 1990s iconic model Heidi Klum were among the stars to join Richie for the King's Trust Global Gala in Casa Cipriani, in New York, on May 1. And Richie, whose hits include All Night Long, was shaking hands and celebrating with glamorous guests late into the night, in downtown Manhattan. Lionel Richie attends The King's Trust 4th Annual Global Gala on May 1, 2025 in New York City. Lionel Richie attends The King's Trust 4th Annual Global Gala on May 1, 2025 in New York City. Cindy Ord/WireImage On the red carpet, Richie said: "A million kids. I've been doing this since the 80s so I've been involved and what I'm loving the most is that we're winning. "Self esteem, satisfying people's dreams who had no dreams at all, really no way of even trying to figure out what it's all about. "So, being involved in this is so rewarding because I can give back and, not only do I, but everyone involved. "You know, these are major corporations coming to the table and if it's not the money it's the mentorship." An auction for the charity raised $2.5 million dollars to be spent on projects aimed at helping give young people a start in life, including in America. Sophie Morris, team leader at City Year New York, told Newsweek her organization delivers a King's Trust program at East Harlem's P.S. 171 Patrick Henry Preparatory school, teaching disadvantaged children how to go into business. "It's eight weeks where you take the group of middle school children through the basics of business, learning about entrepreneurship, profit, revenue, learning those hard skills but also soft skills," she said. "These kids signed up and they were a little bit shy at first but this last Friday we took them to a competition where they got to present their own business, a skin care kit. A lot of them have eczema so they wanted to create a kit for sensitive skin." "There are a lot of kids living in the shelters, in and out of housing, just very volatile childhoods," she added. Jack Royston is chief royal correspondent for Newsweek, based in London. You can find him on X, formerly Twitter, at @jack_royston and read his stories on Newsweek's The Royals Facebook page. Do you have a question about Charles and Queen Camilla, Prince William and Princess Kate, Meghan Markle and Prince Harry, or their family that you would like our experienced royal correspondents to answer? Email royals@ We'd love to hear from you.
