Kennedy Center President Richard Grenell has thrown down the gauntlet over what he called Rhode Island Democratic Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse's “careless” and “inaccurate” investigation into the performing arts institution.
Whitehouse, an ex-officio member of the Kennedy Center's Board of Trustees, presented a number of accusations against Grenell on Thursday. Grenell then responded letter in which he chided Whitehouse for relying on “inaccurate gossip” and “partisan reporters” to reach his conclusions, adding that the senator had “failed basic fact-checking”. (RELATED: Richard Grenell Reveals Trump's Plan to Save 'Dying Arts')
Accusing the Kennedy Center under President Donald Trump's administration of “sharp discounting on event rentals for well-funded political allies like NewsNation” and exorbitant costs for newly hired staff, Whitehouse introduced documents he claims to substantiate his accusations.
Grenell went on to provide a line-by-line report on improvements to the Kennedy Center's budget in his letter. The performing arts center's president also noted a drastic reduction in the size of its development department, dropping from 94 staff to 16.
Statement by Kennedy Center President Ambassador Richard Grenell on Senator Sheldon Whitehouse's letter pic.twitter.com/xQuhpofNvC
— Kennedy Center (@ @ @cenns) November 20, 2025
In response to Whitehouse's statement, NewsNation received a preferential rate as a supposed Trump ally, Grenell noted that their event at the Kennedy Center included “Chris Cuomo, [Democratic Pennsylvania Sen.] John Fetterman and Stephen A. Smith”, neither of whom are republicans or Trump voters.
Although documents Released by Whitehouse and the US Senate Environment and Public Works Committee shows that FIFA did not receive any invoices for the Kennedy Center event, Grenell claims soccer's governing body “gave us several million dollars.” The Daily Caller News Foundation could not independently verify his claim.
WASHINGTON, DC – MARCH 17: US President Donald Trump speaks to the media with Richard Grenell, President of the Kennedy Center Board of Trustees, during a tour of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts before chairing a board meeting on March 17, 2025 in Washington, DC. After shunning the Kennedy Center's annual honors during his first term in the White House, Trump fired the center's president, removed the Biden-appointed bipartisan board and installed himself as chairman of the storied music, theater and dance institution. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
The former ambassador and acting Director of National Intelligence (DNI) further criticized Whitehouse for accusations that his social club is all-white, writing: “Lisa Dale, a Chilean-American who I understand would not be welcome at your private beach club, has already helped raise $117,012,000 this year.”
Grenell concluded his letter by inviting Senator Whitehouse to the Kennedy Center to “enjoy our new common sense programs and responsible fiscal management.”
Neither Whitehouse nor Grenell's office immediately responded to DCNF's request for additional comment.
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