Trump insider gets lucrative job picking which acts will perform at Kennedy Center

His compensation package was not disclosed but a job posting for the role indicated a salary range of $270,000-$290,000

Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Membership today.

The Kennedy Center, which is largely closed for renovations, has named a Trump insider as its new artistic director, according to a report.

His compensation package was not disclosed but a job posting for the role indicated a salary range of $270,000-$290,000.

Canny, a veteran entertainment industry executive, has been involved in several efforts to reshape the center since Trump became chair of its board, including a proposal to revamp its ticketing system.

His board later voted to add his name to the institution, prompting a lawsuit from Rep. Joyce Beatty, an Ohio Democrat, and other legal challenges. In May, a district judge ruled that Congress — not the president or board — controlled the center’s name and ordered Trump’s name removed.

The president has also championed a two-year closure of the performing arts center, which he says is necessary to make long-overdue renovations. Though the closure has been temporarily blocked by a court, officials announced last month that the center would shut down, citing the need for structural repairs.

The upheaval has coincided with financial strain, which deepened after Trump’s name was added to the building.

Artists canceled performances, and internal projections in May indicated the center would generate $124 million out of the $220 million that had been budgeted for the year.