Ben Folds Resigns from Kennedy Center Role as Donald Trump Is Elected Chair: ‘Not for Me’

Ben Folds is stepping down from his position at the National Symphony Orchestra.

On Wednesday, Feb. 12, Folds, 58, announced that he was resigning from his role as the artistic director of the NSO after President Donald Trump was elected chair of the Kennedy Center by the board of directors, as per the New York Times.

“Given the developments at the Kennedy Center, effective today I am resigning as artistic advisor to the NSO. Not for me,” he wrote in a statement shared on Instagram.

“It’s been a wonderful 8 years working with Kennedy Center President Deb Rutter, fellow artistic advisor Renee Fleming, and the entire NSO staff, encouraging thousands of fresh new audiences to appreciate symphonic music.”

The multi-platinum singer/songwriter/producer concluded, “Mostly, and above all, I will miss the musicians of our nation’s symphony orchestra — just the best!”

Deborah Rutter was fired from her position, a role she held from 2014 to 2025, the NYT reported. Richard Grenell was appointed interim president, while Trump, 78, replaced former Kennedy Center chair David M. Rubenstein.

According to a press release obtained by PEOPLE, 14 new Kennedy Center Board of Trustee members were announced today, including Vice President J.D. Vance’s wife, Usha Vance.

This change in staffing comes after Trump, 78, was elected chair of the Kennedy Center. Last week, the president posted on Truth Social his plans for the cultural institution.

“At my direction, we are going to make the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C., GREAT AGAIN,” Trump wrote on Feb. 7.

Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE’s free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

“I have decided to immediately terminate multiple individuals from the Board of Trustees, including the Chairman, who do not share our Vision for a Golden Age in Arts and Culture. We will soon announce a new Board, with an amazing Chairman, DONALD J. TRUMP!” he added.

The Kennedy Center responded on Feb. 8, saying that they “received no official communications from the White House.”

“Per the Center’s governance established by Congress in 1958, the chair of the board of trustees is appointed by the Center’s board members,” the statement continued.

“There is nothing in the Center’s statute that would prevent a new administration from replacing board members; however, this would be the first time such action has been taken with the Kennedy Center’s board.”

While Trump was en route to the Super Bowl in New Orleans on Sunday, Feb. 9, he took questions from the press and said that the shows were “terrible,” reiterating his plan to take over the cultural center.

“I want to make sure it runs properly,” Trump said at the time. “We don’t need woke at the Kennedy Center, and we don’t need — some of the shows were terrible. They were a disgrace that they were even put on.”

The PEOPLE Puzzler crossword is here! How quickly can you solve it? Play now!

When reporters asked if he had ever seen a show at the Kennedy Center, Trump said he had not. “I get reports they were so bad… I didn’t want to go,” he responded. “There was nothing I wanted to see.”