The Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, long considered a symbol of American culture and creativity, has just redefined its public image in a powerful way. On the night of April 10, 2025, the Washington, D.C. landmark was permanently illuminated in the colors of the American flag—red, white, and blue—marking a striking new chapter under the leadership of President Richard Grenell.
The decision isn’t temporary. This isn’t another one-off lighting arrangement for a global issue, identity group, or abstract cause. This is a nightly, enduring tribute to the United States of America and the values it stands for.
“The lights are a beautiful reminder of the American spirit,” said Roma Daravi, Vice President of Public Relations at the Kennedy Center. “They’re a powerful symbol of unity and our nation’s commitment to bringing people together.”
That statement hits the mark. In an era where cultural institutions have often traded national pride for political performance art, the Kennedy Center’s shift represents a direct return to the basics: unity, pride, and heritage. It’s no accident this move comes as the institution undergoes a broader transformation initiated under President Trump’s renewed focus on reshaping the federal arts complex.
In 2024, Trump pledged sweeping reforms at the Kennedy Center—including removing the existing board—following public outrage over controversial programming, including youth-targeted drag shows. “We are going to make the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., GREAT AGAIN,” Trump posted earlier this year. And by all available metrics, the Center is on that path.
Critics, of course, wasted no time melting down. From theatrical protests to—you can’t make this up—interpretive dancing, progressive voices lashed out, accusing the Center of turning its back on inclusivity.
But if attendance numbers are any indication, everyday Americans aren’t buying the outrage. On March 29, the Kennedy Center shattered its all-time record, drawing 11,000 attendees, 76% of whom were first-timers.
For years, the Kennedy Center reflected whatever was fashionable among D.C. elites. In 2013, it glowed in swirling colors for a Nordic light festival. In 2020, it lit up in purple and amber for the Women’s Suffrage Centennial. It went yellow and blue in 2022 to support Ukraine. Each gesture was temporary, symbolic, and often politically charged.
Now, Grenell’s team is drawing a line in the sand. Unlike other landmarks like the Empire State Building, which routinely changes its lighting to accommodate every trending cause, the Kennedy Center will remain steadfast in its nightly patriotic display.
