President Trump, entertainer-in-chief

0:00And I am certain that after the dust of centuries has passed over our cities, we too will be remembered, not for victories or defeats in battle or in politics, but for our contribution to the human spirit. In 1962, President John F. Kennedy spoke at a fundraiser for the National Cultural Center. He spoke of art as a universal language and envisioned a national hub for art and artistic exchange in the United States. Moreover, as a great democratic society, we have a special responsibility to the arts. For art is the great democrat calling forth creative genius from every sector of society. The center was created by a bipartisan bill signed by President Dwight D.

0:48Eisenhower in 1958, who hoped it would become a, quote, artistic mecca. It was then the Kennedy administration, with the strong influence of First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy, that made strides towards its construction. Tonight seems to be at long last the beginning of what for so long has really been just a hope or a dream. The night featured a lineup of some of the most iconic artists of the era, including comedian Danny Kaye, dancer Maria Tallchief, and a seven-year-old Yo-Yo Ma.

1:24After JFK was assassinated the following year, the Center was renamed the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. And for decades, the Kennedy Center honors have highlighted performing artists for their contributions to American culture. Recipients have included Ella Fitzgerald. Dream a little dream of me. Tom Hanks. Hello. My name's Forrest, Forrest Gump. And the Grateful Dead.

2:01The Kennedy Center honors, even though they're attended by the president and politicians, have always been a night away from politics and partisan division. But since President Trump took office a second time, he has thrust the Kennedy Center and several other American cultural institutions into the midst of the country's political divide. And he has initiated a takeover of the Kennedy Center. Consider this. Throughout Trump's second term, he has dramatically expanded the authority of the executive branch. Now, he is using his power to reshape American culture.

2:41From NPR, I'm Elsa Chang.

2:52It's Consider This from NPR. Before he entered politics, most Americans knew Donald Trump as an entertainer. As the host of the hit show, The Apprentice, he was catapulted to a new level of fame. I've mastered the art of the deal and have turned the name Trump into the highest quality brand. And as the master, I want to pass along my knowledge to somebody else. I'm looking for the apprentice. In this term, unlike his first, President Trump has taken aim at cultural institutions. He has declared that Smithsonian exhibits must submit to White House scrutiny. He has successfully sued and won settlements from multiple broadcasting giants.

3:33And so to understand how Trump is influencing culture in the U.S., We spoke with NPR senior political correspondent Domenico Montenaro and NPR cultural critic and media analyst Eric Degens. I wanted to start our conversation by asking Eric how Trump's direct interjection into culture has impacted the arts. So I think what we've seen happen here is a lot of chaos and we've also seen a lot of uncertainty and a lot of fear. People are not sure what's expected of them. But what seems to be happening is that the expertise of people who've run these institutions is being subverted and overturned and replaced by fealty to Trump and his ideological agenda.

4:14And on top of that, what's really interesting is that even though Trump has in many ways been somebody who's overturned institutions, he's also somebody who wants to be recognized by them. You know, he's somebody who has called the press fake news, but he also seems to want to be featured in, you know, the New York Times or featured favorably and CNN. He's someone who has criticized the Kennedy Center Honors, but he's also someone who seems to want to receive one. And in fact, we saw that when he was talking about the Kennedy Center Honors and picking who would get them as he began to assert more control over the organization.

4:51And we have a clip. Since 1978, the Kennedy Center Honors have been among the most prestigious awards in the performing arts. I wanted one. I was never able to get one. This year, it's true, actually. I would have taken it if they would have called me. I waited and waited and waited. And I said, the hell with it. I'll become chairman. And so I think what really concerns people in the arts world is that all of a sudden the rubric isn't whether you're a great artist or whether you've achieved something. It's, you know, how much have you paid fuel to the Trump and how much do you do you align with his ideology?

5:24Well, Domenico, this assertion of authority we're seeing from President Trump this term, it's more than we saw in the first term, right? Like how unusual is this level of involvement in the cultural space for a president? Well, we've always had presidents try to look to shape the narrative. You know, all the way back to Nixon, his vice president, Spiro Agnew, spoke out against the advent of television news, for example, which he saw as shallow and focused on the wrong things. But what Trump is doing here goes way beyond any traditional working of the refs. You know, he's he's trying to use the leverage of his office to operationalize control over the message.

5:57He's trying, for example, to force media outlets hands and more specifically their corporate owners, often with lawsuits or in the case of public media, cutting funding. You know, Trump doesn't want criticism. He wants fealty and he's willing to use whatever he can to get it. Fealty. OK, so if this is all about loyalty, something that we know he values, why take on an industry that often challenges authority just to show he can do it? That's exactly why, to try and break it, to get that control over them. And to do this in some ways with outlets settling for millions of dollars for things that are routine journalistic practice, as CBS did as a result of 60 Minutes editing of an interview with Kamala Harris during the 2024 campaign, it was a real strong-arm tactic.

6:40And it's been interesting to see how the pushback has come in the same company that owns CBS and 60 Minutes, Paramount. South Park seems to be, the animated show seems to be where there's a lot of criticism of the president. Even as there was a deal between South Park and Paramount and a deal between Paramount and Skydance to merge, they have stepped forward. They've had new episodes that have criticized the president. And we've got a clip of them making fun of how the president tends to bring in world leaders or bring in local politicians and have them flatter him. Let's check it out. Mr. President, you have so many great ideas.

7:21Your leadership is truly beyond anything we have ever had in this country. And we have to stop there because the joke that unfolds is something we can't air on the radio. But it's word for South Park because, you know, they're coming from a place where they They haven't necessarily always been a consistent critic of the president, but they're stepping up now and it's really making an impact. Yeah. And if you think that's outlandish, I mean, listen to just a little bit of Trump's recent three and a half hour cabinet meeting under the last administration. And it's an honor to do this under your leadership.

7:57Innovative jobs and get them back to work. So thank you for your leadership, Mr. President. Thank you. Great job. Mr. President, I invite you to see your big, beautiful face on a banner in front of the Department of Labor. So is that life imitating art or vice versa? Either way, this is what Trump wants. And certainly with an industry like comedy or the arts that are traditionally counterculture and counterpower. That is NPR's Domenico Montanaro and Eric Deggans. Thanks to both of you. You're welcome. Thank you. This episode was produced by Kai McNamee with audio engineering by Tiffany Vera Castro.

8:30It was edited by Courtney Dorning and Justine Kennan. Our executive producer is Sammy Yenigan. And before we go, a quick thanks to our Consider This Plus listeners who support the work of NPR journalists and help keep public radio strong. Supporters also hear every episode without messages from sponsors. Learn more at plus.npr.org. It's Consider This from NPR. I'm Elsa Chang.