Ben Folds, a former Artistic Advisor to the National Symphony Orchestra (NSO), issues an open letter urging public support for the orchestra amid what he describes as severe financial and operational strain connected to changes at the Kennedy Center. Multiple outlets report that Folds resigned in February 2025 following Donald Trump’s takeover of the Kennedy Center, and that further developments led to the venue being renamed the Trump-Kennedy Center, prompting backlash.
Folds warns that the NSO “may not survive” the continuing “chaos” around the Kennedy Center, saying the orchestra lacks time and has been “suffocated” by financial turmoil attributed to the presidential takeover. He frames the situation as urgent and highlights that supporters can take steps to help the NSO during this period of uncertainty.
Separate from the NSO’s condition, outlets also note that a federal judge has ordered Trump’s name removed from the Kennedy Center building. The stories collectively present Folds as central to drawing attention to the NSO’s potential risk while acknowledging the related legal and public dispute over the Kennedy Center’s renaming.
