Kennedy Center official's new request led to 'audible gasp' from staff: report

The Kennedy Center has undergone a slew of changes since Donald Trump's election to his second term in office, but one request made staff release "an audible gasp," according to a report.

Trump avoided the Kennedy Center in his first term, but has since vowed to remake it in MAGA's image.

Already, reports have abounded about canceled bookings, a dropoff in donations, and stars like legendary cellist Yo-Yo Ma dropping out of performances ever since Trump promised to rebuild the Kennedy Center into a MAGA bastion.

Raw Story reported over the weekend on how Kennedy Center officials have purportedly discussed speaking to Qatar about funding a VIP renovation project, as well as on an anecdote about a recent film flop.

But one request made the staff gasp, according to the Wall Street Journal's weekend report.

Noting that the center recently filled a position for a director of faith-based programming, the outlet reported, "The religious orientation has at times extended to the institution’s staff."

"The Kennedy Center’s new head of development, Lisa Dale, invited her staff to pray during a May meeting, a request that prompted an audible gasp from some staff members, according to a person familiar with the matter," it stated. "Dale dropped the idea at the time. In the same meeting, she mentioned that insubordination would be grounds for dismissal, the person said."

Dale didn't reply to requests for comment from the WSJ, the report states.

Read the article here.