Trump Claimed He Had ‘Musical Aptitude’ as a Child, According to the Kennedy Center Board

On his initial visit to the Kennedy Center after being named chairman of its board, President Trump shared his thoughts on Broadway performances, dancers in elegant tights, the Potomac River, and Elvis Presley.

However, during a private conversation at the beginning of a board meeting on Monday, Mr. Trump revealed something he typically avoids in larger forums: a personal story from his childhood.

He recounted to the board members that in his younger days, he exhibited a particular talent for music after taking aptitude tests that his parents had arranged, according to three attendees of the meeting.

He mentioned that he could identify notes on the piano, addressing board members he has known for years as well as some newer faces. However, he noted that his father, Fred Trump, was not supportive of his musical gifts, as shared by the participants, which led to him not pursuing his talent.

“I have a high aptitude for music,” he remarked at one point, according to individuals present at the meeting. “Can you believe that?”

“That’s why I love music,” he added.

These remarks from Mr. Trump have not been reported before and were not included in an audio recording of the board meeting obtained by The New York Times earlier this week.

Yet, this is a narrative he has shared privately, according to a source familiar with the comments, relating to a time in his life before his parents enrolled him in the New York Military Academy at the age of 13.

The anecdote surprised some attendees in the room.

Country singer Lee Greenwood, known for “God Bless the U.S.A,” confirmed in an interview that Mr. Trump emphasized his childhood connection to music during the meeting. Mr. Greenwood, appointed to the Kennedy Center’s board by Mr. Trump, has collaborated with the president on a Bible project. He mentioned that they had previously discussed the president’s musical skills.

“He’s absolutely very creative and very artistic,” Mr. Greenwood stated. “I have no doubt he has a great ear for music.”

When asked about the anecdote, Steven Cheung, the White House communications director, did not directly comment but mentioned that the president “is a virtuoso, and his musical selections illustrate a brilliant palette of vibrant colors when others often choose pale pastels.” As the president and chair of the Kennedy Center, Mr. Cheung asserted, “there is no one more uniquely poised to elevate this country and its rich artistic history.”

Mr. Trump has long expressed an interest in music and theater, once aspiring to be a Broadway producer. During Monday’s meeting, he sought the board members’ opinion on which was superior: “The Phantom of the Opera” or “Les Misérables.” He reflected on attending the premiere of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s “Cats” in the early 1980s, and he shared his admiration for performers like Broadway star Betty Buckley and musicals such as “Hello, Dolly!” and “Fiddler on the Roof.”

“So many incredible shows,” he remarked at one point, according to the recording. “So many incredible shows.”

Mr. Trump moved to remove the Kennedy Center’s previous board chairman, financier David M. Rubenstein, along with board members appointed by the Biden administration last month. He had informed allies for weeks of his desire to lead the Kennedy Center, which he has occasionally misidentified as Lincoln Center, the premier arts venue in his hometown of New York City.

Mr. Trump criticized the currently popular musical “Hamilton” during his tour of the center on Monday; its producers canceled a planned tour at the Kennedy Center next year in response to his takeover of the institution, which had enjoyed a bipartisan history for decades. Additional artists also canceled their engagements there.

The Kennedy Center has honored and hosted performers who have openly criticized Mr. Trump’s actions as president, a detail he and his advisors frequently highlight.

Mr. Trump’s aspiration to influence programming at one of the foremost arts centers in the U.S. has not surprised some of his longest-serving advisors.

Mr. Trump dedicates considerable time to curating the playlists for his rallies, personally managing music at his clubs, acting as a disc jockey. Several artists have repeatedly requested that he refrain from using their songs.

Throughout his first term, Trump’s advisors often found that music served as a means to soothe him when he was upset. On board his private aircraft, known as Trump Force One, and on Air Force One, he often plays music loudly enough that it resonates through the cabin.

During a campaign town hall in Pennsylvania in October, after two attendees required medical assistance, Mr. Trump surprised some of his aides by pausing the event to have his team play music for over half an hour, swaying and dancing on stage as the music played.

During a late meeting with aides reviewing his playlist in the first term, Mr. Trump asked the group to sift through Spotify for over an hour searching for a particular song he believed he remembered from “Tommy,” the Who’s rock opera. The aides were unable to locate it.