Tag: Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts

More telling things about Trump Administration

Today’s blog post is a continuation of Sunday’s, Various telling things about Trump Administration, (which I meant to schedule for today but hit the “publish” button instead of the “schedule” button my mistake.)

As I said in Sunday’s blog, the nightly TV network news programs cannot cover everything in a half hour. Here are some things you might have missed hearing about.

Columns at what’s left of the White House

President Trump wants Corinthian columns on the new White House ballroom. Rodney Mims Cook, Jr., Trump’s appointee who chairs the Commission of Fine Arts, says there are Corinthian columns at the U.S. Capitol and the U.S. Supreme Court building, so he can’t imagine why the lowly Ionic columns were put on the White House 200 years ago.

The White House, Washington, DC. (Photo by Melo Liu on Unsplash)

Cook says he has not yet discussed with the President that the existing Ionic columns on the North Portico and South Portico of the White House should be replaced with Corinthian columns.

Example of an Ionic column. (Photo by Maik Winnecke on unsplash.com.)

As reported by The Washington Post, “The Corinthian would be inappropriate for the Executive Residence,” said Steven Semes, a professor emeritus of architecture at the University of Notre Dame and an expert in classical architecture, warning that it would ‘harm’ the original design of a building long known as the ‘People’s House.’

Example of a Corinthian column. (Photo by Ruben Hanssen on Unsplash)

“He added that the White House’s Ionic columns evoke ‘the character of dignity, grace and a kind of intimacy or domesticity,’ whereas Corinthian columns are ‘used to express the height of formality and monumentality’ for buildings such as the Capitol.”

The official White House response earlier this week was that there are no plans to replace the Ionic columns at the White House. How many times have we heard the Trump Administration say, “There are no plans,” only to see something like the East Wing of the White House become a pile of rubble?

The truth is not in these people.

Just you wait. We will wake up one morning to see piles of rubble where the Ionic columns now stand. Money is no object to the Trump Administration, unless you want to spend money to benefit human beings.

The wrecking ball being used at the White House is a metaphor for what the Trump Administration has done to our country and everything it stands/stood for.

Shoes

Perhaps the latest fiasco within Trump’s inner circle is that he decided to order wingtip shoes for each of the cabinet members (or, I’m assuming, only the male cabinet members), but he overlooked one detail. Shoe size.

 He (or one of his minions) guessed at what shoe size each person needed. It seems that Secretary of State Marco Rubio now must wear shoes several sizes too big. The pictures are laughable, but I doubt Secretary Rubio is laughing as he tries not to walk out of his gigantic shoes.

Do we not have one single department head in the Trump Administration who is brave enough to tell the President that they aren’t going to wear the shoes?

I read that he has also given these shoes to other VIPs and lawmakers he likes. I refuse to say the brand name and give the company any more free publicity.

It’s not enough that his people must mimic Trump’s every word; they must also wear the shoe brand he prefers, no matter what size they are.

It is more than a little jarring to know that in the middle of an illegal war, the U.S. President is thinking about buying shoes for his rich friends.

Has there ever been a more out-of-touch U.S. President?

The Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts

Since President Trump put his own name on The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts last year, numerous artists have cancelled their appearances in protest.

The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, Washington, DC. (Photo by MIKE STOLL on Unsplash)

As a result, Richard Grenell, Trump’s appointed director of the facility, has now lost his job.

Trump could not let us think that the cancellations were a result of his naming the building for himself. It had to be someone else’s fault. It just had to be.

The beautiful, iconic living memorial to President John F. Kennedy will close on July 5 for two years for “renovations” and “upgrades.” I doubt it will resemble its old self when Trump gets through with it.

I choose to remember it the way it was. Trump can put his name all over it in flashing neon lights if he wants to, but it will always be remembered as it was in its original elegant form, and it will NEVER be thought of as “The Trump Center.”

Another baseball cap faux pas

It wasn’t enough that President Trump wore a baseball cap to the Dignified Transfer of the remains of the first five Americans killed in the war in Iran. Even after receiving criticism – or perhaps because he received criticism – for his inappropriate choice of head gear, he then used a photo of himself at the somber event to launch a “pay-to-play” scheme.

It begs the question, “Was the white “USA” baseball cap all part of a grander money-raising plan?”

It is inappropriate and disrespectful to our fallen military personnel and their families to use photographs of one of their flag-draped coffins and his baseball cap adorned head to raise money, and it is beyond the pale that he is using this photograph to offer donors national security briefings.

You didn’t know that? Please keep reading.

The soldiers killed in the first day of Trump’s war were Sgt. Declan Coady, 20, of West Des Moines, Iowa; Capt. Cody Khork, 35, of Winter Haven, Florida; Sgt. 1st Class Nicole Amor, 39, of White Bear Lake, Minnesota; Sgt. 1stt Class Noah Tietjens, 42, of Bellevue, Nebraska; Maj. Jeffrey O’Brien, 45, of Indianola, Iowa; and Chief Warrant Officer 3 Robert Marzan, 54, of Spotsylvania, Virginia.

Mr. President, they were human beings. They were part of our all-volunteer armed forces. They volunteered to put their lives on the line from the people of the United States of America. They swore to defend the United States Constitution. Unlike you, they took their pledge seriously.

And now, Mr. President, you use a photograph of yourself in a ridiculous baseball cap along with the top of one of their flag-draped coffins in a pay-to-play scheme.

The request was signed “President Donald J. Trump.” Never Surrender Inc. paid to send it out for him. By paying to play, donors were told they would have “National Security Briefing Membership.”

Let that sink in for a minute….

Here is part of the online report from Navy Times on https://www.navytimes.com/news/your-military/2026/03/14/trump-fundraising-email-uses-photo-of-march-7-dignified-transfer-of-deceased-soldier/ which includes quotes from the pay-to-play scheme:

“’I’m the strong commander who stares down tyrants, obliterates terrorists, and never backs down,’ Trump states in the email. ‘This is for patriots ready to stand with that kind of unbreakable strength. Not for the weak or the wavering.’

“The email promises donors a series of private national security briefings and updates on ‘threats facing America… border invasions, foreign adversaries, deep state sabotage, and every danger the fake news hides.’

“’You’ll get the inside scoop DIRECT from me, President Trump,’ the email continues, ‘the leaders who’s rebuilt the greatest military in history, and put America First like no one else.’”

This scheme goes way beyond being inappropriate. What national security briefing details does Trump and/or Surrender Inc plan to share with donors? This goes beyond stupid and reckless.

Add this scheme to the trash pile of never-ending Trump money-making schemes. We can only hope this scheme fails like many of his other schemes. I mean, you have to be pretty inept to bankrupt a gambling casino, don’t you?

Janet

The government should be afraid of its citizens, not the other way around.

He and his words are despicable

There was a tragedy in Los Angeles last weekend. It was followed hours later by a tragic expression of hate on Truth Social.

I struggled over whether to blog about this. I concluded that if I remained silent, I was complicit. I concluded that if I did not speak out, I was giving the President of the United States permission to continue to demonstrate his lack of humanity.

I am aware that he does not need my permission to do anything. I am merely one citizen. One voter. He does not answer to me. He has proven repeatedly since January 20, 2025, that he does not answer to anyone. I hope that sometime in the next 37 months, he will be answerable to someone. If he will not be held accountable for his behavior by the United States Congress in the next 37 months, he will eventually be held accountable by our Creator.

His words about the murder of Rob and Michele Reiner were shocking but not surprising.

Rob and Michele Reiner were Hollywood icons. As far as I know, neither of them ever hurt anyone. They loved their son and had, no doubt, done everything in their power to help him with his addictions.

Photo of the Seal of the President of the United States.
Photo by Sean Foster on Unsplash

But when “the leader of the free world,” “the most powerful man in the world” due to the political office he holds responded to the news the Reiners had been found murdered in their Los Angeles home with vitriol, I was shocked.

It is shocking that a human being can be so callous and devoid of empathy. It was shocking, but it was not surprising. (Yes, I’ve already said that, but it bears repeating.)

As the current President of the United States always does, he made light of these murders AND he made it all about him. Not only did he say despicable things about the Reiners, he said they were murdered because they had Trump Derangement Syndrome.

I find him so repulsive that I refuse to mention his name today except when I have to.

He more than insinuated in his social media post that the Reiners were murdered because they did not like him. (Can you spell narcissist?)

It turned out that they were apparently murdered by their son, who has a history of drug addiction. We might never know what triggered these acts of violence, but it is doubtful it had anything to do with the Reiners’ political opinions.

As everyone who knew Rob and Michele Reiner or appreciated their work has mourned their untimely deaths and the profound tragedy of the indications that they died at the hands of their son, we are also left to once again deal with the embarrassment caused by the words of the President of the United States.

The President of the United States is supposed to be a person of integrity and character. It is not spelled out in the job description, but in the 236 years we have had a President, it has been or at least evolved into a position in which we expect a level of respect, empathy, leadership, and encouragement. Until 2025. We would like to have it in 2025, but we no longer expect it.

What we expect from the current United States President is disrespect, ridicule, mean-spirited words and actions, name calling, belittling, racism, and a total lack of empathy for anyone in the nation or the world who is struggling, suffering, or grieving.

Therefore, what he said about the murder of Rob and Michele Reiner was shocking, but it was not surprising.

How many more despicable things must he say before someone in a position of authority does something?

How many more despicable things must he say before some people who claim to be Christians stop defending and supporting him?

His behavior would not be tolerated if he were an employee in any other job in America, so why is it tolerated when he has the job of United States President?

Then, the plaques about the former U.S. Presidents

Mr. President, the fact that this week you added plaques under the photographs of yourself and other former U.S. Presidents along that wall you’ve tackied-up at the White House, goes right along with the way you started the week by saying hateful things about Rob and Michele Reiner.

The little bits I’ve heard of what you said about President Biden and President Obama on their plaques are so far beneath the dignity of the office you hold, words fail me. Only a very tiny, insecure person does such a thing.

You have turned the wall beside an outdoor walkway leading to the Oval Office into a Wall of Horrors. We can only hope it and the Oval Office can be returned to their former simple elegance when you are gone.

Then, there was your nationally-televised yell-fest

Wednesday night, those of us who tuned in out of curiosity, heard and watched the U.S. President have a yell-fest. For 18 minutes, you talked yelled as fast as you could. It was a bizarre display, even for you, and you have set the bar incredibly low with your earlier speeches and “weavings” you are so proud of.

Considering the purpose of the yell-fest was apparently to tell us how great you think you are and how cheap groceries are thanks to your leadership, you certainly sounded angry.

If you were lucky enough to not hear Wednesday night’s tirade live, it is quoted in its entirety here: ttps://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2025/12/17/read-donald-trumps-speech/87820921007/. To really appreciate it, though, you needed to hear it live with all the anger his tone of voice showed. He was practically gritting his teeth at the end when he spit out, “To each and every one of you have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. God bless you all.” He was obviously too angry to even fake a smile.

You are not great, Mr. President. You are a sorry excuse. You are a profound embarrassment to all reasonable Americans.

The Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts

Yesterday, Trump claimed to be “surprised” when the trustees he appointed to the board to which he named himself the chairman renamed The John F. Kennedy Memorial Center of the Performing Arts in Washington, DC, The Donald J. Trump and John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.

Since he has been referring to it as the Trump-Kennedy Center for several weeks, claiming it was a slip of the tongue, why would he say it was a surprise yesterday? The truth just is not in him.

Congress named it as a memorial to President John F. Kennedy in 1964, so it is questionable that the Trump-appointed trustees have the authority to change the name. As long as there is a Republican majority in this do-nothing Congress, though, nothing will probably come of this.

This isn’t the first thing Trump has named for himself, of course.

Last week he renamed the United States Institute of Peace the Donald J. Trump Institute of Peace and had his name chiseled into the entrance to the building.

The White House ballroom that originally was going to cost $200 million, he now says just months later, will cost $400 million. There is speculation that he will name it The Donald J. Trump Ballroom. Why wouldn’t he?

He’s going to build an arch in Washington, D.C. that will supposedly dwarf the one in Paris. After all, the bigger, the gaudier, the better in Trump World.

It is surprising he renamed the Gulf of Mexico the Gulf of America. I wonder why he didn’t name it the Gulf of Trump?

It will always be the Gulf of Mexico to me. And it will always be the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.

Anything he names for himself can be changed back to its rightful name when he is gone.

Only 37 more months? Unless he renames the Constitution of the United States of America the Constitution of Donald J. Trump. He said when he was campaigning that he thought the U.S. Constitution should be abolished.

Buckle up, folks, it’s going to continue to be a rough ride. We’re only 11 months in. It just seems like 11 years.

Janet

MASA? The Reimaging of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security

“Make America Safe Again” appears to be the new slogan of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), but I’ve never felt less safe in my life.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) thugs with masked faces in unmarked vehicles are turned loose to supposedly apprehend “the worst of the worst” among us. The Trump Administration’s catch phrase, “the worst of the worst” can be translated to “immigrant,” except for those who have married into Trump’s family.

In his ramblings at the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts yesterday he mentioned not letting people into the country if you don’t like what they look like. That pretty much sums up the outlook of his Presidency. He doesn’t want them counted in the U.S. Census either.

I have not seen ICE thugs in person. I live in a semi-rural area. But I’ve seen enough photographs and news reports. All this heightened militarization of the federal government only scares me, even though I’m white and was born in the United States. What’s to say ICE nabs me by mistake?

I keep procrastinating getting a new passport to prove I’m a citizen. It seems like I shouldn’t have to pay $195 just to have a document to prove I’m a citizen. I could just carry a copy of my birth certificate everywhere I go, just in case; however, that merely proves I was born here, and that’s not going to be sufficient after the U.S. Supreme Court lets Trump do away with the 14th Amendment.

What’s to say they nab me because I write uncomplimentary things about Trump? Come to think of it, my passport won’t do me any good if that happens. Maybe I don’t need a passport after all.

The Department of Homeland Security website

Something told me to visit the website for DHS (https://www.dhs.gov/) yesterday afternoon, but I wish I hadn’t. Now I can’t un-see it.

At the top of the home page is a stern-looking image of “Uncle Sam” pointing his finger at the person viewing the computer screen. The text: “AMERICA NEED YOU! America has been invaded by criminals and predators. We need YOU to get them out. JOIN ICE.” The words, “JOIN ICE” are in a clickable button for your convenience.

I’ve seen photographs of the “Uncle Sam Needs You!” posters that were used in the 1940s, but that was during World War II. “Uncle Sam” needed every American to sacrifice and serve in some way to defeat Nazi Germany and Japan.

Uncle Sam "I want you U.S. Army" poster
Photo from the Library of Congress

For a government agency to use that image today to target immigrants minimizes the importance of the country’s need in the 1940s. To conflate the immigration problems of 2025 with a World War is a slap in the face to my parents’ generation who survived The Great Depression and World War II.

But the DHS website only got worse.

Under the red, white, and blue banner of Uncle Sam pleading for your help is a photograph of Secretary Kristi Noem all decked out like a cowboy atop a horse. She is surrounded by more cowboys on horses like a posse tracking down the bad guys in a B-grade movie set in the 1800s out in the mythical “wild West.

The photo brings back memories of the “Gunsmoke” TV series from the 1950s. Not what I want to see in the United States in the 21st century – not even in a movie or TV program – much less in real life.

I suppose it is all part of the Trump Administration and MAGA’s fascination with guns.

Too many meaningless slogans

Under that bizarre photograph it says, “Making America Safe Again.” Just what we needed: one more “Make America _____ Again!” This has turned into a multiple-choice exercise in which you can fill in just about any adjective that comes to mind.

I would say this “Make America _____ Again” is a broken record, but there’s a whole generation of people out there who wouldn’t have a clue what that means.

I consider it a privilege of birth that I was born and have lived my entire life in the United States of America. I didn’t do anything to deserve that, and I have considered it a blessing.

But I have apparently been living under the misconception that America was a great country. Now, at the ripe old age of 72, I find out it was all a hoax!

This land of opportunity and freedom I have happily lived in all these years which afforded me a free public education and an affordable public university education and gave me the opportunity to earn a living as I chose was all smoke and mirrors! What a shock!

My entire life has apparently been a joke. I only thought I was happy. I only thought I was free. Little did I know all this time I’ve been living in a hell hole, according to President Trump.

Make America Great Again. Make America Healthy Again. Make America Safe Again. For about 24 hours back on July 20, we even had Make Indians Great Again because Trump wanted the Cleveland Guardians baseball team to revert to being the Cleveland Indians.

Frankly, I’m sick of every bit of this. All of these bombastic slogans being made by a failed but somehow famous convicted felon businessman who is running roughshod over the United States of America ring hollow.

What does “great” mean?

Trump’s idea of “great” is equivalent to money, lies, a façade. It’s all a house of cards and it will collapse.

Money does not equate with greatness, to my way of thinking. Greatness is found in how you treat other human beings – how you treat all human beings.

Greatness is not found in calling people stupid, idiots, lunatics, scum, criminals, etc.

Building yourself up by making all manner of false claims about your intellect and accomplishments is not greatness; it’s a sign of weakness and insecurity.

Here we are.

Janet