The Kennedy Center’s Tax Return

A previously unseen filing captures the state of the institution seven months after Donald Trump’s takeover.

Andrew Harnik / Getty September 18, 2026, 3:52 PM ET Share Save For 19 months, Donald Trump has portrayed himself as the Kennedy Center’s savior. He promised to root out “woke” programming at the arts complex. He claimed that past leaders had neglected dangerous conditions in the building—a structure that he now says might have to be “ripped down” if he can’t put his name on it. Throughout his tenure, he and his allies have accused former executives of financial mismanagement and even “fraud” that left the organization struggling.