Grenell Lashes Out At Democrat Senator’s ‘Careless’ Probe Of Kennedy Center Finances

Kennedy Center President Richard Grenell threw down the gauntlet over what he called Democratic Rhode Island Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse’s “careless” and “inaccurate” probe into the performing arts institution.

Whitehouse, an ex officio member of Kennedy Center’s Board of Trustees, debuted a litany of allegations against Grenell on Thursday. Grenell then responded with a letter in which he admonished Whitehouse for relying on “inaccurate gossip” and “partisan reporters” to come to his conclusions, adding that the senator did not “undergo basic fact-checking.” (RELATED: Richard Grenell Reveals Trump’s Plan To Rescue The ‘Dying Arts’)

Accusing the Kennedy Center under President Donald Trump’s administration of “steeply discounted event rentals for well-funded political allies like NewsNation” and extravagant spending on newly hired staff, Whitehouse presented documents he claims substantiate his allegations.

Grenell, in his letter, went on to provide a line-by-line account of the Kennedy Center’s budgetary improvements. The performing arts center’s president also noted a dramatic reduction-in-force within his development department, cutting staff from 94 to 16.

Statement from Kennedy Center President Ambassador Richard Grenell on the Letter by Senator Sheldon Whitehouse pic.twitter.com/xQuhpofNvC

— The Kennedy Center (@kencen) November 20, 2025

In response to Whitehouse’s claim NewsNation was given a preferential rate as a supposed Trump ally, Grenell noted their Kennedy Center event featured “Chris Cuomo, [Democratic Pennsylvania Sen.] John Fetterman, and Stephen A. Smith,” none of whom are Republicans or Trump voters.

Though the documents published by Whitehouse and the U.S. Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works show FIFA was billed nothing for its event at the Kennedy Center, Grenell claims the soccer governing body “has given us several million dollars.” The Daily Caller News Foundation was unable to independently verify his claim.

The former ambassador and acting Director of National Intelligence (DNI) further lambasted Whitehouse over allegations his social club was all-white, writing, “Lisa Dale, a Chilean-American who I gather would not have been welcome at your private beach club, has helped raise $117,012,000 this year so far.”

Grenell ended his letter by inviting Senator Whitehouse to the Kennedy Center to “enjoy our new commonsense programming and responsible financial stewardship.”

Neither Whitehouse nor Grenell’s office immediately responded to the DCNF’s request for additional comment.

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