Washington, D.C., March 7 (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump announced on Friday the appointment of Fox News host Laura Ingraham and Fox Business anchor Maria Bartiromo to the board of the renowned Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. This marks a significant move in Trump's ongoing reshaping of cultural institutions.

The president's decisions came shortly after he named himself chairman of the Kennedy Center, where he recently ousted several long-serving board members and appointed special envoy Richard Grenell as interim executive director. “This completes our selection,” Trump stated on social media, expressing enthusiasm to "Make the Arts Great Again," as reported by The Hill.

Trump's takeover of the Kennedy Center has sparked controversy, with notable backlash from several artists and celebrities. Comedian Whoopi Goldberg and producers of the hit musical Hamilton recently announced their decisions to boycott the venue, citing concerns over the politicization of a space traditionally seen as a refuge for the arts.

The Kennedy Center is celebrated for its prestigious Kennedy Center Honors ceremonies and serves as a home to the National Symphony Orchestra and the Washington National Opera. Despite the backlash, Trump remains resolute in his vision for the center’s transformation amidst a broader effort to reform various government sectors.

These appointments further exemplify Trump's strategy of surrounding himself with media figures who share his political ideology, following other notable appointments of Fox personalities to influential government positions. While Trump's actions at the Kennedy Center have generated significant debate, he aims to restore it to what he describes as its former glory.

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