Trump's arts commission chairman joins Putin's forum amid Ukraine war
On June 3, Rodney Mims Cook Jr., the chairman of the US Commission of Fine Arts, made history by being the first US official to participate in the St Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF) in almost ten years. The roundtable discussion titled 'Russia-USA: dialogue of cultures' was led by Mikhail Shvydkoy. During the event, Cook expressed his admiration for Russian culture and highlighted various heritage initiatives, such as the New Jerusalem Monastery and Arkhangelskoye Palace. He also referenced Trump's ballroom project and a proposed triumphal arch. Notable attendees included Mikhail Piotrovsky, Olga Lyubimova, Valery Gergiev, and Steven Seagal. As a gesture of goodwill, Cook presented a Sitka Icon of the Theotokos to a monastery, returning an icon that Putin had gifted in August.
Key facts
- Rodney Mims Cook Jr is chairman of the US Commission of Fine Arts
- He participated in a roundtable at SPIEF on US-Russian cultural exchange
- He is the first US official to attend SPIEF in nearly ten years
- Ukrainian drones struck St Petersburg on June 3, timed for the forum
- The roundtable was moderated by Mikhail Shvydkoy
- Cook spoke for nearly 20 minutes about his love for Russian culture
- He supported heritage projects in Russia including the New Jerusalem Monastery cathedral and Arkhangelskoye Palace
- He included a photo of a Soros Foundation event in his presentation
- Mikhail Piotrovsky, Olga Lyubimova, Valery Gergiev, and Steven Seagal also participated
- The panel was broadcast on Rutube, owned by Gazprom-Media
- Marco Rubio denied knowledge of the US delegation
- Cook delivered a copy of the Sitka Icon of the Theotokos as a gift from Trump
Entities
Artists
- Valery Gergiev
- Steven Seagal
- Candace Owens
- Andrew Tate
- Tristan Tate
Institutions
- US Commission of Fine Arts
- St Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF)
- Venice Biennale
- State Hermitage Museum
- Mariinsky Theatre
- Bolshoi Theatre
- Gazprom-Media
- Rutube
- Russian Orthodox Church
- Open Society Foundations
- Soros Foundation
- Fordham University
- Orthodox Christian Studies Center
- The Art Newspaper
- Tass
- NBC News
- American Express
Locations
- St Petersburg
- Russia
- Atlanta
- Georgia
- United States
- White House
- Washington DC
- Lincoln Memorial
- New Jerusalem Monastery
- Arkhangelskoye Palace
- Moscow
- Alaska
- Anchorage
- Ukraine
- European Union