Richard Grenell, a close foreign policy adviser to President Donald Trump, is stepping down from his role leading the Trump Kennedy Center for the Arts.
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WASHINGTON – Richard Grenell, President Donald Trump’s top foreign policy adviser, is stepping down from his role leading the Trump Kennedy Center for the Arts after a tumultuous year for the performing arts scene.
President Trump announced the news in a social media post on March 13th. He named Matt Floca, the building’s vice president of facilities and operations, to be the company’s next CEO.
“Rick Grenell has done a great job helping coordinate the various elements of the Center during the transition period, and I want to thank him for his excellent work,” Trump wrote.
Mr. Floca’s appointment is subject to approval by the Performing Arts Center’s Board of Directors.
The news comes after President Trump announced in February that he planned to close the center for two years after July 4 for renovations. President Trump has sought to overhaul the venue since taking office, but has previously criticized the venue as being “too woke.”
Last year, he was appointed chairman of the building’s board of directors. The board later voted to change the name of the building, formerly known as the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, to include Trump. It is now called the Donald J. Trump and John F. Kennedy Memorial Performing Arts Center.
The change caused waves of performers, from the cast of Hamilton to the Washington National Opera, to cancel shows at the center.
In addition to leading the Kennedy Center, Mr. Grenell also served as special presidential envoy. Her resignation comes days after Trump fired Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem.
