MSNBC’s Joy Reid's habit of taking everything to eleven on the outrage scale continued on Thursday’s edition of The ReidOut as she suggested Nazi programming might be coming to The Kennedy Center after President Trump appointed himself the Center’s chairman. Additionally, Reid declared that the reason why Trump appointed himself is because “fascists are terrified of the arts.”
After recalling how some people are cancelling their performances at The Kennedy Center in protest, Reid claimed that is a sign of things to come, “Because here's the thing about the arts: you actually have to be able to sell tickets, sell out seats, people have to want to perform at and attend your venue, especially in the arts, which are historically underfunded throughout the world, and specifically, The Kennedy Center, which is a public-private partnership, relies on ticket sales for the vast majority of its revenue.”
Reid scoffed, “But with Trump at the helm, good luck finding those performers. Unless it's, like, Kid Rock, Kid Rock 365 days a year, Kanye West and his $20 swastika shirts, that one opera singer Trump swayed to with Kristi Noem for an hour. The Village People, has anyone ever actually explained the multiracial, gay icon Village People to America's Fredo Corleone? Let's see, who else? Amber Rose, maybe, or the assorted rappers who support Trump but are shunned by the culture.”
Further painting a dystopian future, Reid continued, “This will impact who gets grants if grants are even allowed anymore for underrepresented artists, or who gets to curate, create, produce, write, or star in content. Films only about wholesome white Christian folks. Is that really what America wants? Will the black Little Mermaid be forced to hide in her secret grotto for fear of offending all the white little mermaids? When does this madness end?”
The Kennedy Center’s upcoming programming is available for all to see, and there is nothing to suggest that it will become anything like Reid is warning about. Nevertheless, she added, “There's a reason why fascists are terrified of the arts. It is the medium that challenges authority and promotes dissent. Which is why we must take this Kennedy Center takeover very seriously.”
Here is a transcript for the February 13 show:
MSNBC The ReidOUt
2/13/2025
7:51 PM ET
JOY REID: Because here's the thing about the arts: you actually have to be able to sell tickets, sell out seats, people have to want to perform at and attend your venue, especially in the arts, which are historically underfunded throughout the world, and specifically, The Kennedy Center, which is a public-private partnership, relies on ticket sales for the vast majority of its revenue.
But with Trump at the helm, good luck finding those performers. Unless it's, like, Kid Rock, Kid Rock 365 days a year, Kanye West and his $20 swastika shirts, that one opera singer Trump swayed to with Kristi Noem for an hour.
The Village People, has anyone ever actually explained the multiracial, gay icon Village People to America's Fredo Corleone? Let's see, who else? Amber Rose, maybe, or the assorted rappers who support Trump but are shunned by the culture. But it isn't just about the Kennedy Center, Trump is likely to have a chilling effect on the arts from Hollywood to comedy and literature, especially as his attacks on DEI have shaken arts organizations throughout the country.
This will impact who gets grants if grants are even allowed anymore for underrepresented artists, or who gets to curate, create, produce, write, or star in content. Films only about wholesome white Christian folks. Is that really what America wants? Will the black Little Mermaid be forced to hide in her secret grotto for fear of offending all the white little mermaids? When does this madness end?
There's a reason why fascists are terrified of the arts. It is the medium that challenges authority and promotes dissent. Which is why we must take this Kennedy Center takeover very seriously.
