Posted on 03/26/2020 2:12:44 PM PDT by gattaca
President Trump on Wednesday defended the inclusion of $25 million in funding for the Kennedy Center as part of the massive economic relief bill aimed at boosting small businesses and workers harmed by the fallout of the coronavirus.
Trump fashioned himself a supporter of the arts, arguing that the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts is deserving of assistance given its inability to put on shows as officials ban large gatherings to try to curb the spread of the virus.
"I’m a fan of that," Trump said of the funding. "I haven’t spent time there because I’m far too busy. I’d love to go there evenings, but I’m too busy doing things."
"The Kennedy Center, they do a beautiful job, an incredible job," he added.
The president said an initial draft of the Senate’s roughly $2 trillion economic package called for $35 million in aid for the performing arts center, a figure that was later decreased to $25 million.
Many conservatives have cited the funding as an example of unnecessary spending in a bill meant to immediately assist workers and small businesses upended by the coronavirus.
The Kennedy Center has a bipartisan board of trustees, which includes first lady Melania Trump.
The arts hub, located on the Potomac River in Washington, D.C., is among the businesses impacted by federal guidelines that have called for Americans to limit gatherings to 10 or more people. The mayor of Washington, D.C., has also ordered nonessential businesses to close to try to contain the virus outbreak.
"You couldn't go there if you wanted to," the president said. "If I wanted to go there tonight to look at 'Romeo and Juliet' — I’d love to see 'Romeo and Juliet' tonight. But you know what would happen? Sorry, 250 people or 50 people or whatever it might be down to."
The president and first lady have skipped attending the Kennedy Center Honors gala each of the past three years.
I saw an opera there years ago, and a Beethoven symphony. Both were fantastic and the venue was exquisite. Not sure why “conservatives” like Lee and Cruz always scream about these tony expenditures, but never blinked at TRILLIONS in endless war payouts to the armaments cartel.
Exactly.
Amazing how quick they forgot what the Dems really wanted, and had to abandon, so they can have the luxury of flipping their lid over peanuts in the greater scheme of it.
He’s being very gracious to a venue that has hosted numerous anti-Trump self congratulating gatherings of libs who have literally tried to ruin the careers of any performers who appeared at a WH function
What about Carnegie Hall?
See, Trump doesn’t care about New York.
It is still less than a dud movie made in Hollywood.
It’s politics. Most of us can understand this stuff goes on.
I guess things look different when you’ve got some control over the printing press - and the world keeps on taking our money - I don’t get it but they do. I guess they have nowhere else to go
The Kennedy Center is in Washington DC. PDJT would probably be boo’d by the elites if he tried to attend anything there.
I highly doubt that money going to JUST the Kennedy Center will help all of NYCs ‘upscale restaurants and hotels’.
I’d prefer to see this Kennedy Center $$ go to the insurance companies, under Business Interruption disbursements.
They’d need to exempt/remove the pandemic exclusion. Which, should not be a problem, considering.
This will allow restaurants to keep their employees on payroll, keep their bills paid (make up for lost $$), etc.
This is what restraunteurs like Wolfgang Puck and others have asked for....that would give them the most and immediate help.
Kennedy Center can go get donations from all of the wealthy residents and foundations ... like Clinton Foundation.
This is priceless The Hill makes it look like this BS was Trump idea.
Exactly.
Why he defends their getting any of our tax $$, is beyond me.
They can’t stand him.
Let them get donations from the wealthy elites and foundations.
It’s outstanding, study leadership is a time of widespread panic.
“What about Carnegie Hall?”
Congress will get there.
They will just need to practice, practice, practice spending our money.
“The Kennedy Center is in Washington DC.”
Didn’t know that. Well, it’ll help restaurants, hotels, and bars there, too, I guess.
That’s pretty good how they can twist this around to be Trump’s fault.
I don’t support him on this.
It is what it is
If we didn’t have Paul Rino in there and had a strong speaker and we had a strong AG we would have never lost the house
NPR and Kennedy center funding is what we deserve for not running a better game
If Obama can destroy Chicago for his invisible library.i hope Trump uses the bankrupt Kennedy Center for his library site.
Yes but trump just made it clear he saved the Kennedy center. I kinda dig that. Especially on her birthday. Stole her thunder.
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