The vote by board members of the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts to make Donald Trump chairman was not unanimous, CNN’s Jake Tapper reported Wednesday, despite Trump’s claim to the contrary.
According to Tapper, who appeared on AC360, “there were some votes that were abstentions” and “there were some votes against.”
It’s unclear if the vote was anonymous.
Given Trump’s overhaul of the board, which included the installation of ally Ric Grenell as executive director, the vote in his favor was still “overwhelming,” said Tapper.
Others on the board—which currently lists 29 members appointed by the president—include second lady Usha Vance, Trump aides Dan Scavino and Sergio Gor, White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles, and Allison Lutnick, the wife of Commerce Secretary nominee Howard Lutnick.
Tapper provided audio of Trump calling in to speak with them.
“I think we’re going to do something very special,” Trump said. “It got very woke-y, and some people were not happy with it, and some people refused to go. And we’re not going to have that.”
Last week, Trump purged 18 Democratic appointees, including former White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre and longtime Joe Biden adviser Mike Donilon.
Television producer Shonda Rhimes has resigned as Kennedy Center treasurer, a spokesperson told CNN Wednesday.
