The Kennedy Center’s downfall is, of course, a saddening travesty, but it is also an example of the consequences of organizations caving to political pressure. For decades, the Kennedy Center has been a figurehead celebrating the creative achievements of various Americans and hosting noteworthy performances that many would want to attend.
Unfortunately, when President Trump and his administration wanted the institution to cave to its rules, it, alongside many other public federal organizations, caved. On one hand, it makes sense since the federal government makes up a significant portion of these institutions’ revenue stream, largely under Operations and Maintenance expenses.
The consequence of institutions like the Kennedy Center agreeing to follow the whims of the Trump administration is the hits to their credibility and reputation. Caving to political pressure from administrations like President Trump’s leads to the organization being affiliated with whatever actions these administrations believe or do, made worse when their boards are replaced by figures that adhere to these administrations’ best interests.
When the public loses trust in you, that unsurprisingly leads to a major drop in your other revenue streams, including ticket sales and artist collaborations. While it is no doubt challenging and even dangerous to defy these looming presidential institutions, those that manage to stand up will almost always gain more support from the public. This would lead to increased efforts to keep these organizations afloat through donations, ticket sales, and media coverage. Additionally, even if these organizations have ideologies that differ, an organization that remains firm in its stances and does not budge will make people more likely to respect it.
