Richard Grenell, the center’s new president, told a conservative gathering that the “big change” at the center would be a “huge celebration of the birth of Christ at Christmas.”

Until a few weeks ago, the biggest news to come out of the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., was its annual celebration of notable American artists.

President Trump announced plans Friday to fire board members for the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts and install himself as its chairman. "At my direction, we are going to make the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C., GREAT AGAIN," Mr. Trump wrote on Truth Social.