Trump 'set a trap' for his critics with his big Kennedy Center decision: analyst

Donald Trump’s choices to honored by the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts is presenting a dilemma for his critics, with CNN analyst Stephen Collinson calling it a trap that the president and his supporters will use against them.

As part of his “anti-woke” campaign against the venerable cultural institution, which has been reeling since he took over as chair and appointed a swath of his allies to the board, Trump hyped up his choices to be feted at the annual gala later this year and unveiled the names on Wednesday. The recipients include “Rocky” actor Sylvester Stallone, singer Gloria Gaynor from the long past disco era, Broadway actor Michael Crawford, country artist George Strait and rock band KISS.

Noting that previous recipients have included legendary soul singer Aretha Franklin and Broadway composer Stephen Sondheim, previously “chosen by a nominally bipartisan panel of arts and entertainment industry luminaries,” the analyst claimed the president has an ulterior motive by making the selections himself.

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“When Trump’s critics bemoan what they see as a takeover of top political and cultural institutions, his fans think he’s taking those entities back,” the analyst wrote, while adding the president’s picks are more populist than ‘high' culture.”

“That’s not to say that they are unworthy. Who could argue that Stallone didn’t leave an ‘indelible’ mark on his art form? That’s one of the criteria for selecting nominees. And Kennedy Center honorees have been trending toward the popular arts for decades, under presidents of both parties.” he suggested.

He then warned, “As always, Trump was setting a trap for his political foes,” further explaining, “Any criticism of his choices as too lowbrow or undeserving will only bolster his claims to be a scourge of the establishment and endear him more to supporters who lionize him as the ultimate outsider.”

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