Agents
Yes but let’s be clear about this.
It’s not that “the Kennedy Center is (or isn’t) closing.” It’s that Trump is closing the Kennedy Center. It’s not a thing the Kennedy Center is doing, it’s a thing that Trump is doing to the Kennedy Center, and to all of us.
It’s really important never to lose track of the direction of causality here.
And the underlying message to all similar institutions is “play Trump’s game and don’t get onto the wrong side of him, or this will happen to your institution, too.”
Otherwise known as intimidation. It worked for other autocrats and dictators, including lots of wannabees while on their ways upwards.. So why not for the Orange Narcissist as well.?
It’s closing because all of the artists who cancelled performances have done Trump a level of narcissistic injury that he cannot tolerate. I don’t even think it’s revenge or intimidation at this point, because he’s already destroyed it by replacing the previous staff with sycophants.