Veteran journalist Katie Couric has reignited debate over President Donald Trump’s overhaul of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, calling the institution “a disgrace” in a social-media post after the centre highlighted its family-oriented “Opera in the Outfield” programme at Nationals Park. Couric’s criticism drew a swift response from acting Kennedy Center chief Richard Grenell, who said no productions had been cancelled under the new leadership and insisted “everyone is welcome… even you.” Grenell, appointed by Trump and also serving as a special presidential envoy, added that some artists themselves had withdrawn rather than perform for Republican audiences. Trump assumed the chairmanship of the federally supported arts complex after his 2024 re-election and replaced much of its board, saying he wanted to reverse what he labelled “woke” programming. Since then, Republican lawmakers have introduced legislation to rename the Opera House for First Lady Melania Trump and, separately, to rebrand the entire venue as the “Donald J. Trump Center for Performing Arts.”