Posted on 03/26/2020 2:12:44 PM PDT by gattaca
President Trump on Wednesday defended the inclusion of $25 million in funding for the Kennedy Center as part of the massive economic relief bill aimed at boosting small businesses and workers harmed by the fallout of the coronavirus.
Trump fashioned himself a supporter of the arts, arguing that the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts is deserving of assistance given its inability to put on shows as officials ban large gatherings to try to curb the spread of the virus.
"I’m a fan of that," Trump said of the funding. "I haven’t spent time there because I’m far too busy. I’d love to go there evenings, but I’m too busy doing things."
"The Kennedy Center, they do a beautiful job, an incredible job," he added.
The president said an initial draft of the Senate’s roughly $2 trillion economic package called for $35 million in aid for the performing arts center, a figure that was later decreased to $25 million.
Many conservatives have cited the funding as an example of unnecessary spending in a bill meant to immediately assist workers and small businesses upended by the coronavirus.
The Kennedy Center has a bipartisan board of trustees, which includes first lady Melania Trump.
The arts hub, located on the Potomac River in Washington, D.C., is among the businesses impacted by federal guidelines that have called for Americans to limit gatherings to 10 or more people. The mayor of Washington, D.C., has also ordered nonessential businesses to close to try to contain the virus outbreak.
"You couldn't go there if you wanted to," the president said. "If I wanted to go there tonight to look at 'Romeo and Juliet' — I’d love to see 'Romeo and Juliet' tonight. But you know what would happen? Sorry, 250 people or 50 people or whatever it might be down to."
The president and first lady have skipped attending the Kennedy Center Honors gala each of the past three years.
He should announce having a rally on the grounds now.
True. Ha! That’d be awesome.
Trump’s not a traditional Republican folks. That’s not Ron Paul up there. Not sure why you’re complaining about this.
In fact, I would probably say that Trump could be the greatest Democrat in history. Almost all of his policies are aligned with a Jacksonian-Jefferson type of Democrat.
Post of the day !!!
Except for the President does not write legislation.
Of course they would, just search "President Trump Kennedy Center Awards" and look at the articles that come up with either anti-Trump statements or articles expressing relief that the President and First Lady are not welcome to attend.
If this is the bone that he had to throw Nancy, it was a cheap one in the grand scheme of things and shows his magnanimity to those who can see it.
“The president and first lady have skipped attending the Kennedy Center Honors gala each of the past three years.”
Just HAD to squeeze some anti-Trump tid-bit in there, didn’t you, corksucker?
Yes, but if they are shuttered because the money went to Kennedy Center instead of them, then the Kennedy money does nothing for them. They're not around anymore to service customers.
“There are dozens of “Kennedy Centers” in this country.”
Oh, really?
Disneyland is knocking at the door.
I am more p!$$ed that the congresscritters gave themselves a raise!
Perhaps that is why he is it. 8>)
The NYC MRT system bailout brings the needle half-way up the scale...
However, for me the key peg-the-needle items to look for were the $500 million for illegals defense fund, funding for Baby-Killers Incorporated, $100 million for police-state vote harvesting, and chicom-virus caused amnesty for 800,000 nightmares...
If the game is 4-D chess, President Trump apparently was playing 3-D checkers on this one
Spending 25 million on a performance hall visited by wealth elitists does not seem like a good use of the taxpayer’s money.
The president’s endorsement of this pork-stuffed package should finally terminate the quaint fantasy that President Trump is a conservative.
Donald Trump may wind up being a very good, or even excellent, president, but he should never be considered an actual conservative.
To this point, Trump is doing a good job. Let’s hope he is re-elected. But Trump is no conservative.
Anyone who believes Trump is a conservative is living in the kind of lovely fantasyland that is generally only possible through the heavy use of recreational drugs.
The last actual conservative in the White House was President Ronald Reagan.
Reagan is one of the 4 greatest presidents ever, after Washington, Jefferson, and Lincoln. No other presidents are greater than these 4.
No one else comes within $2.2 trillion of these 4 magnificent chief executives.
He caved and gives credence to justify the rest of the pork in the bill. Bad move Mr. President. He should have redlined all of the pork, including his Space Force baby.
Milton Friedman 1969. Too bad he didn't live to see it actually happen!
GIVE a little.. TAKE a little... LEAVE a little behind!
TRUST in TRUMP knowing how to appease the LITTLE critters in the swamp and still WIN his game.
This is VERY disappointing news.
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