Richard Grenell, the center’s new president, told a conservative gathering that the “big change” at the center would be a “huge celebration of the birth of Christ at Christmas.”

Until a few weeks ago, the biggest news to come out of the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., was its annual celebration of notable American artists. That has changed since the return of Donald Trump.

Donald Trump is not only upending American governance; he also intends to wield cultural influence. So he is taking on an unusual presidential side gig, as chairman of The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.