this post was submitted on 28 May 2026
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cross-posted from: https://lemmy.world/post/47433300

If Trump’s name is removed, a ‘vital fundraising connection will be severed,’ the center’s chief executive argued

A Trump-Kennedy Center official warned a federal judge that stripping the president’s name from the renowned arts institution would cause unbearable financial damage, marking the latest twist in a months-long legal battle.

Charles Matthew Floca, the center’s 39-year-old executive director, filed a declaration Tuesday in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, arguing the institution’s funding is inextricably linked to President Donald Trump.

“President Trump’s fundraising on behalf of the Center is exemplified by the tens of millions of dollars already raised,” Floca wrote. “Further, the President has committed to raise $150 billion on its behalf from private donors over the next two years.”

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[–] kryptonianCodeMonkey@lemmy.world 16 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago) (1 children)

“President Trump’s fundraising on behalf of the Center is exemplified by the tens of millions of dollars already raised,” Floca wrote. “Further, the President has committed to raise $150 billion on its behalf from private donors over the next two years.”

Three things.

  1. What in the world would they ever need $150 billion for? The entire complex was built in 1959 for $61 million or $687 million adjusted for inflation. They could build 218 new Kennedy Centers with that money. Upkeep, renovations, and marketing for a theatre do not take that kind of money.

  2. We're giving Trump personal credit for fundraising "tens of millions' for the center since the name was added 5 months ago... sure. And he has promised to attract donations for $150 billion in 2 years. The difference between "tens of millions" and $150 billion is basically $150 billion. $100 million, which he's apparently not yet fundraised, would be .07% of that goal. He's not even made a dent in his full 2 year commitment in 5 months. If he raised $100 million A DAY for two years he wouldn't even be halfway to that goal. This money already fundraised "exemplifies" absolutley nothing in relation to this commitment made.

  3. The guy making these arguments is a personal insert by Trump to serve this exact purpose. He's been in this position for 2 months. Trump fired the entire board to replace them with his people that would let him do what he wanted with the Kennedy Center. Trump's name has been on the building since December. The center wasn't about to close down then. They didn't have a fundraising issue then. If there is suddenly a lack of funds coming in apart from those Trump personally solicits, it's because Trump decided to turn this decades old theatre into a vanity statement for himself, exert control over the events and shows the theatre puts on, and make it a part of his political propaganda wing instead of the mostly independent arts theatre that it was before. Shocking that that may have caused previous investors/donators to decide to spend their money elsewhere.

He made a theatre a partisan entity in his own name. If it fails because of that, all the more fitting of a metaphor for the taint and rot that Trump's very touch causes.

[–] ThunderQueen@lemmy.world 1 points 1 day ago

The MidAss Touch

[–] Mulligrubs@lemmy.world 8 points 1 day ago

It stinks of corruption, tear the whole thing down

[–] ImADifferentBird@piefed.blahaj.zone 15 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Seemed to be doing just fine without Trump's name on it before. Now they can't book acts to save their fucking lives.

What good is a performing arts center with no performers?

[–] resipsaloquitur@lemmy.cafe 8 points 1 day ago

It’s a billboard for a pedophile.

[–] Lost_My_Mind@lemmy.world 58 points 1 day ago

If your organization needs a pedophiles help to stay in business to that degree? Your business deserves to fail.

[–] Ludicrous0251@piefed.zip 38 points 1 day ago (1 children)

“President Trump’s fundraising on behalf of the Center is exemplified by the tens of millions of dollars already raised,” Floca wrote. “Further, the President has committed to raise $150 billion on its behalf from private donors over the next two years.”

Let's try to be generous here and assume "tens of millions of dollars" is 1) roughly $100M, and 2) all new income that wouldn't have happened without his name on the wall, on top of any income offsetting losses. Both very generous assumptions for a statement from a member of this administration.

If that's true, he is expecting to raise in the next 24 months 1500x as much money as has come in the last 6 months.

Like are these people really this dumb or do they really just not care?

[–] Garbagio@lemmy.zip 4 points 1 day ago

Independent won't lead with "Trump-appointed" for some reason. Trump gave him the job just last year.

[–] mrmisses@lemmy.world 29 points 1 day ago (1 children)

So where were they getting their money before trump shit all over the building?

[–] ArgentRaven@lemmy.world 29 points 1 day ago

Probably all the concerts and bookings that cancelled after Trump slathered his name in the building.

[–] LovableSidekick@lemmy.world 2 points 1 day ago

You should have gone before we left.

[–] Drusas@fedia.io 18 points 1 day ago

Do it anyway.

[–] kboos1@lemmy.world 15 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago) (1 children)

Pretty sure he's making shit up because he wants to keep the sign

$10s of millions is a long way away from $150 billion, it's like saying he gave me a $20 and promised $1,500 and check in the mail, so I let him write dickhead on the walls.

I also have a bridge to sell this guy.

[–] MyTurtleSwimsUpsideDown@fedia.io 3 points 1 day ago (1 children)

it's like saying he gave me a $20 and promised $150,000, check is in the mail

Don’t undersell it. You are under by two orders of magnitude. This is a “Lego set : nice house” or “used car : lottery jackpot” kind of ratio

[–] kboos1@lemmy.world 2 points 1 day ago

You're right. Fixed

[–] Twongo@lemmy.ml 7 points 1 day ago

wasn't it closed anyway?

Good, let it die then. It's tainted beyond repair at this point. Would you attend an event at a venue run by a rapist con man? Kennedy descendents should request their name be removed from the entire operation. Here's hoping an electrical fire takes down the building.

[–] IAmYouButYouDontKnowYet@reddthat.com 14 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago) (1 children)

Sounds like someone that knows they could be killed if they say something wrong, but doesn't have the soul to die for what's right.

[–] PM_ME_VINTAGE_30S@anarchist.nexus 7 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago)

Sounds like someone that knows they could ~~be killed~~ lose their Treats™ if they say something wrong, but doesn't have the soul to ~~die~~ lose their Treats™ for what's right.

[–] PM_ME_VINTAGE_30S@anarchist.nexus 12 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Good, then fucking go broke and resign yourself to the dustbin of history where you belong AmeriKKKa AmeriKKKa AmeriKKKa AmeriKKKa

[–] BillyClark@piefed.social 6 points 1 day ago

Everything that has had Trump's name on it needs to be demolished. We should find some other way to honor Kennedy that is unsullied by Trump's name, even if it's just in the history section of its Wikipedia article.

[–] Witchfire@lemmy.world 2 points 1 day ago

Mafia extortion