A political earthquake may be brewing in the heart of America’s arts establishment. Ric Grenell, President Trump’s newly appointed head of the Kennedy Center, revealed this week that an internal audit has uncovered a staggering $26 million in fraudulent “phantom revenue.”
Speaking during a private dinner with Kennedy Center board members in the White House State Dining Room, Grenell did not mince words:
“It’s criminal,” he said. “We’re going to refer this to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.”
The explosive allegations point directly at financial misconduct under Biden-era leadership of the iconic arts institution. Grenell has made it clear: if wrongdoing is confirmed, criminal charges will be pursued against responsible appointees.
A spokesperson for Grenell confirmed the findings and emphasized the seriousness of the matter. Despite previous financial reports being “reviewed and approved” by the Kennedy Center’s audit committee, full board, and a major accounting firm, Grenell insists the books were cooked.
“We’re not just talking about accounting mistakes—we’re talking about fake money on the books. And people are going to be held accountable,” a source close to Grenell stated.
Trump: “We’re Going to Turn It Around”
President Trump also weighed in on the revelations, calling out the Kennedy Center for using taxpayer money to promote what he called “political propaganda” instead of American excellence.
“Instead of programming that tears this country down, the Kennedy Center should be celebrating America’s greatness—our arts, music, and culture,” Trump said. “That’s what we’re going to restore.”
Trump lamented the Center’s past choices in both programming and architecture, joking about its odd construction layout:
“They built crazy rooms underneath and three tiny little stages that cost a fortune… Someday, maybe someone will occupy one.”
But he ended on an optimistic note:
“We’re going to turn it around. That’s what I love doing—turning things around. We’re doing that with the country, and we’ll do it with the Kennedy Center.”
What’s Next for the Kennedy Center?
Despite the financial storm, the Center continues to move forward with a new lineup of major productions, including Chicago, Spamalot, and Moulin Rouge!. However, these new offerings now take a back seat to the firestorm brewing over fiscal fraud.
If Grenell follows through on his criminal referrals, this may become a defining accountability moment for the Biden-era arts bureaucracy. And if past is prologue, Trump’s mission to clean house at the Kennedy Center will be as swift and dramatic as the shows on its stage.