John Lithgow Critiques Trump’s Impact on Arts Community, Calls It a Major Setback

John Lithgow Critiques Trump’s Impact on Arts Community, Calls It a Major Setback

Actor John Lithgow has expressed serious concerns regarding President Donald Trump’s upcoming second term, labeling it a significant setback for the arts community. His remarks came on Sunday after he received the best actor award at the Olivier Awards held in London.

During his speech, Lithgow highlighted various troubling actions taken by the Trump administration, but emphasized that the most distressing was the president’s control over the Kennedy Center. He described this takeover as a pivotal moment that has escalated tensions in the culture wars.

Trump’s self-appointment as chairman of the Kennedy Center has become increasingly controversial. Lithgow pointed out that the administration has made damaging changes that affect the institution’s artistic direction. The actor noted the stark reality that the Center is currently plagued by a whopping seventy-two million dollars in debt, leading to appointments of Trump’s allies with the aim of addressing these financial struggles.

Leadership Shake-up at the Kennedy Center

Despite the ongoing process to identify new leadership, Trump’s decision to dismiss Deborah Rutter, the former president of the Kennedy Center, caught many off guard. Rutter had already indicated her intentions to resign, yet Trump proceeded to fire her, a move that Lithgow condemned fervently.

“Deborah Rutter was fired from her position as president even though she’d already resigned and had several months left in her term,” he stated. Lithgow, who shared a personal friendship with Rutter, elaborated on their collaborative efforts in 2018 when they co-chaired a commission designed to assess the state of the arts in America. He reflected on the findings, stating that the arts sector was in crisis then, and lamented that the situation has deteriorated further.

“First there was the coronavirus, and now there’s this,” Lithgow lamented, pointing out the dual threats facing the arts sector.

A Call to Action Amidst Crisis

In a candid assessment of the state of the arts community, Lithgow described it as a “pure disaster” that leaves many in the field disheartened. Despite these challenges, he remained hopeful that the arts could evolve and respond positively to adversity.

“It gives us all something to fight for, and I think the arts are animated by that. Right now, everybody is in shock,” Lithgow explained. He believes that after the initial upheaval, challenging circumstances often inspire exceptional creativity, suggesting that “bad times create good art.”

Recent Honors and Future Projects

Lithgow has enjoyed a prolific career in television and film and was recently cast as the iconic Hogwarts headmaster Albus Dumbledore in HBO’s upcoming adaptation of the beloved