Conservatives have long touted the idea that politics is downstream from culture, so when President Donald Trump returned to Washington earlier this year for his second term, making efforts to change the culture was near the top of his agenda.
One of the moves he made, which shocked the political establishment, was naming himself the chairman of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, and naming his former Director of National Intelligence from his first term, Richard Grenell, as the Center's President.
Speaking on the red carpet at the Kennedy Center on Saturday evening, ahead of the National Symphony Orchestra's gala, Grenell noted that over $2.5 million had been raised for the group before the dinner, which was more than $1 million above the previous NSO galas.
Grenell also told the Daily Mail on the red carpet that, between theatrical performances of The Sound of Music, as well as Les Misérables, which the center has hosted under his leadership, the Center has seen a 113% increase in ticket sales.
Les Misérables ran at the Kennedy Center from June 11 to July 13, 2025, and The Sound of Music's stint kicked off the show's new North American tour on September 9th. The Sound of Music's run continues for another week, with performances dated through October 5th.
Those numbers are the latest step in restoring the Kennedy Center's fiscal health, as Grenell has previously said that the venue can’t have productions where we’re losing money.'
'Since I’ve arrived, we haven’t canceled a single show. We have just simply demanded that if you can’t sell enough seats with your production and you can’t find a sponsor to cover the cost, that then you’re on the hook,' Grenell told the Daily Caller last week.
Following Saturday's red carpet, VIP's attended a dinner prior to the evening's performance, which kicked off the National Symphony Orchestra's 95th season.
Ambassador Richard Grenell, Kennedy Center President, arrives at the 2025 Kennedy Center Gala at The Kennedy Center on September 27, 2025 in Washington, DC
President Donald Trump speaks at the Kennedy Center, Wednesday, Aug. 13, 2025, in Washington
U.S. President Donald Trump, alongside Kennedy Center Board of Trustees president Richard Grenell, tours the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C., U.S., March 17, 2025
Ambassador Richard Grenell, Kennedy Center President, spoke with the Daily Mail at the 2025 Kennedy Center Gala in Washington, DC, as he attempts to restore the center's fiscal health
The symphony, led by conductor Gianandrea Noseda, kicked off ten weeks of performances in the nation's capital Saturday in front of a crowd of nearly 2,500 attendees at the Kennedy Center's concert hall.
Renowned pianist Yuja Wang joined the symphony on stage for Tchaikovsky's Piano Concerto No.1, a favorite of the crowd, which stood and applauded after her number for so long that Wang also performed an encore.
In December, the Kennedy Center will continue the beloved annual tradition of Handel's Messiah, a holiday season highlight in Washington.
Grenell also told the Daily Mail that he was 'really excited' about the Christmas show, details about which are forthcoming, but will celebrate the 'birth of Christ in a big, traditional way' at the Kennedy Center.
