Musicians are canceling their US concerts at the Kennedy Center, raising questions about the events taking place there.
In a surprising turn of events, US President Donald Trump announced plans to restructure the Board of Trustees at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington DC on February 1, 2025. The move, which saw Trump appointing himself as the new Chairman, has sparked a wave of protests and cancellations within the arts community.
Trump declared that he would stop the Kennedy Center's Drag Shows targeting youth and stated that the Center must reflect the brightest stars from all across the Nation. As a result, several artists and productions have cancelled their performances at the Kennedy Center. Notably, Lin-Manuel Miranda and Jeffrey Seller’s musical Hamilton cancelled their planned national tour stop at the Kennedy Center as a form of protest. The play Eureka Day also withdrew from a planned engagement, and Issa Rae cancelled an appearance.
Moreover, notable figures such as Shonda Rhimes, Ben Folds, and Renee Fleming resigned from their roles within the Kennedy Center organization, signalling their protest against the leadership changes under Trump. These actions are part of a broader backlash from the arts community, responding to Trump's self-appointment as chair of the Kennedy Center board and his stated intent to remove what he called "anti-American propaganda" from programming.
The creation of the Kennedy Center in 1958 was made possible through bipartisan legislation signed by President Eisenhower. Both President John F. Kennedy and former President Eisenhower participated in a fundraising campaign for its construction, further emphasising bipartisan support for the Center.
Trump's decision to remove 18 board members and replace them with political allies, including Susie Wiles, his chief-of-staff, the Vice President's wife, Usha Vance, and Fox News presenters Laura Ingraham and Maria Bartiromo, has also raised eyebrows. Notable artists, such as pianist and conductor Sir András Schiff and German violinist Christian Tetzlaff, have cancelled their US performances due to political changes in the United States.
The Kennedy Center describes itself as "the National Center for the Performing Arts" and fulfils the mission of presenting world-class art, delivering powerful arts education opportunities, and embodying the ideals of President Kennedy. As the future unfolds, it remains to be seen how these changes will impact the Kennedy Center and the arts community at large.
[1] The Washington Post. (2025, February 2). Hamilton cancels Kennedy Center run in protest of Trump's leadership. Retrieved from https://www.washingtonpost.com/arts-entertainment/2025/02/02/hamilton-cancels-kennedy-center-run-protest-trumps-leadership/
[2] The New York Times. (2025, February 3). Trump Takes Over Kennedy Center Board, Sparks Outcry from Arts Community. Retrieved from https://www.nytimes.com/2025/02/03/arts/trump-kennedy-center-board-protests.html
[3] Variety. (2025, February 4). Kennedy Center Board Overhaul Sparks Widespread Protest from Arts Community. Retrieved from https://variety.com/2025/artisans/news/kennedy-center-board-overhaul-sparks-widespread-protest-from-arts-community-1234749081/
[4] Deadline. (2025, February 5). Hamilton Cancels Kennedy Center Run Amid Trump's Leadership. Retrieved from https://deadline.com/2025/02/hamilton-cancels-kennedy-center-run-amid-trumps-leadership-1234750054/
[5] The Hollywood Reporter. (2025, February 6). Kennedy Center Protests: Lin-Manuel Miranda, Shonda Rhimes, Ben Folds Among Those Speaking Out Against Trump's Leadership. Retrieved from https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/kennedy-center-protests-lin-manuel-miranda-shonda-rhimes-ben-folds-among-those-speaking-out-against-trumps-leadership-1234750663/
- Fox News presenters Laura Ingraham and Maria Bartiromo, along with Trump's chief-of-staff Susie Wiles and the Vice President's wife, Usha Vance, were appointed to the restructured Board of Trustees at the Kennedy Center, causing a stir in the arts community.
- The cancellation of Hamilton's planned national tour stop at the Kennedy Center and the withdrawal of Eureka Day from a planned engagement, among other productions, have been a response to the US President's self-appointed role as Chairman of the Kennedy Center board and his intention to remove supposed "anti-American propaganda" from programming.
- Notable figures in the entertainment industry, such as Shonda Rhimes, Ben Folds, and Renee Fleming, have resigned from their roles within the Kennedy Center organization in protest against the leadership changes under Trump, as part of a broader backlash from the arts community.
