Ben Folds recently spoke at a partisan congressional forum. Specifically, he discussed the highly controversial Ben Folds Kennedy Center takeover by Donald Trump. The famous musician shared his honest thoughts with lawmakers on Tuesday, July 21.

First, Folds served as an artistic advisor for the National Symphony Orchestra for nearly a decade. However, he claims the cultural center changed completely after Trump took over as chairman in February 2025.

Propaganda and Politics

Folds stated that the venue became a toxic environment. Therefore, he resigned because he felt it was entirely hyper-politicized. “I think most of us understand that when you politicize art, you’ve got propaganda,” Folds explained.

Furthermore, he argued that musicians can no longer perform there without making a political statement. He felt an invitation to play was now either a forced endorsement or a direct protest of the president.

Ultimately, Folds felt he could not guarantee the safety of artists he booked. For example, he mentioned a shocking incident involving singer Yasmin Levy. Allegedly, a Kennedy Center executive paid hecklers to boo her during a September performance.

Criticizing Government Projects

The recent forum also focused on several other controversial government projects. Specifically, lawmakers discussed Trump’s extravagant spending across Washington, D.C.

Here are the main projects heavily criticized at the hearing:

• The expensive White House renovations.
• The massive makeover of the Lincoln Memorial’s reflecting pool.
• The construction of a large triumphal arch.

Consequently, Folds hopes his harsh testimony reaches politicians on both sides of the aisle. If you enjoy reading about famous pop stars in the news, check out our recent story on the Ariana Grande Be Alright Brooklyn concert. Finally, you can follow more major entertainment news directly on Billboard.