Ric Grenell, currently presiding over the Kennedy Center conveyed to a captivated crowd at the Conservative Political Action Conference on Friday that the center is gearing up for an expansive ‘celebration of Christ’s birth during the Yuletide season’ this coming December. In a discussion with Dasha Burns at the CPAC, he opened up about his vision for the Kennedy Center, expressing his desire to ‘return art to its former glory.’. Grenell, known for his steadfast approach, went on to voice his concern about the worrying financial condition the Kennedy Center was in, stating that it had ‘no cash on hand or reserves’ and all salaries were being covered from ‘debt reserves’, despite gobbling up approximately $40 million of taxpayer’s money.
According to Grenell, such mismanagement and financial irresponsibility couldn’t be taken lightly, for if an institution is financially backed by public funds, it must follow that the public has a say in its matters. He was assertive in saying that a lot needs to be done at the Kennedy Center, starting with the need for financial rectification. He emphasized on the importance of staging productions and programs that resonate with the public, rather than satisfying a select minority. It’s a matter of giving the public what they want to see, reiterating that they wanted good quality and appealing programs.
The major reform he introduced was to ensure everyone knows the Kennedy Center is a place to be for the Christmas season, as it will be home to a grand celebration marking the birth of Christ. He seemed to suggest with a tinge of disbelief that how unusual it has become, to celebrate Christmas with a traditional production centered around what the holiday was originally about, ‘the birth of Christ. It’s hardly contententious that it is what the global community celebrates during Christmastime, yet such celebrations have become increasingly rare in contemporary times,’ he mused.
Later on, he shared an interesting tidbit with his audience. He announced that he has cast the spotlight on his ‘ideal performer’ Dolly Parton, extending an official invitation to her to perform at the Kennedy Center. He was emphatic that only the most celebrated artists, representing the cream of the crop in their respective field, would be welcomed to perform at the Kennedy Center under his leadership, ensuring the high-quality content he had earlier advocated for.
Switching gears, Grenell then began discussing possibility of providing conditional financial help to California, a state that had been dramatically ravaged by wildfires. It was during this discussion that the audience saw a highly unexpected twist in the tale, Grenell speculated about his own political future, and quite dramatically at that.
Grenell caught everyone by surprise, hinting towards his inclination to run for the California governor’s position, but with a catch – his candidacy would rest on whether Kamala Harris, the former Vice President, decided to run as well. He stated, ‘Should Kamala Harris decide to run, it’s no part of my plan to stay on the sidelines.’ He went a step further, even going so far as to underestimate her chances of success, projecting an unmistakable confidence in a Republican victory.
Grenell continued his line of thought, drawing attention to the hundreds of millions of dollars that have been spent to shed light on Kamala Harris’s political persona. He argued, ‘If Harris is entertaining any dreams of becoming governor of California, she’ll have to grapple with the certainty of a strong Republican contender. And should that happen, I might just succumb to the temptation of running against her.’
The audience were left in no doubt where Grenell stands when it comes to Kamala Harris and her political aspirations. By throwing the proverbial gauntlet down in such a public manner, he made it clear he welcomes the competition. He believes that Harris has shown her true colors, and that those colors aren’t the best fit for the role of California’s governor.
The race for the governorship of California is currently scheduled for November 2026, and sitting Governor, Gavin Newsom (D) is due to be term-limited. As such, the stage is all set for a new leader, and in spite of Harris’s high-profile background, Grenell’s confidence and downright dismissive attitude towards her prospects could potentially turn this into a challenging race.
Though Harris has not officially thrown her hat into the ring for the governorship race, a recent survey paints her as the frontrunner amongst the Democrats. However, the possibility of Grenell joining the race drastically shifts equations and is bound to complicate her seemingly smooth path to the governorship.
What this interview did effectively, was cast serious doubts on Kamala Harris’s politician profile, and simultaneously projected Grenell as a tough contender in whatever role he finds himself – be it leading the Kennedy Center or running for the governor’s position in California.
Though the discussion began with the future of the Kennedy Center art scene and ended with a political bang, one consistent thread was evident – Ric Grenell has reinforced himself as a no-nonsense individual who believes in transparent financial dealings, quality programming and isn’t afraid of shaking up the status quo.
As it stands, Grenell’s candid opinions and hardline stances have not only positioned him as a formidable adversary to Harris but have also ignited a fresh spark of intrigue for the upcoming California gubernatorial elections. While it remains to be seen what role he might eventually take on, this CPAC session has undoubtedly thrown his hat into a swelling political ring.
In all, this interview with Ric Grenell showcased his strong viewpoints, his unwavering determination, and his willingness to take the fight to his opponents, be they fiscally irresponsible organizations or high-profile political figures. As he concluded, his message was clear, ‘what we want to offer to the public is that the Kennedy Center and California deserve better, and I plan to bring that better to them.’