Vice President J.D. Vance faced audible disapproval from attendees at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts following President Donald Trump’s controversial takeover of the cultural institution.
In a video posted on social media by Andrew Roth, global affairs correspondent for The Guardian, Vance, 40, is seen entering his balcony seat with his wife, Usha Vance, to attend a performance by the National Symphony Orchestra featuring Greek violinist Leonidas Kavakos playing Stravinsky’s “Petrushka.” Moments after his arrival, audience members began to voice their displeasure.
Vance and Second Lady Usha Vance arrived late at the famed performing arts center in Washington, DC, reportedly causing a 25-minute delay in the concert’s scheduled start. Audience members had already settled in their seats after the Secret Service required them to undergo a round of security screenings due to the vice presidential motorcade’s arrival.
Initially, a solitary “Boo” rang out, followed closely by another person’s exclamation, “Oh f—.” Soon afterward, a growing chorus of boos erupted from other audience members upon realizing Vance’s presence. One audience member impatiently shouted, “Kill that light,” eager for the event to resume.
Despite the sustained boos lasting approximately 30 seconds, according to The New York Times, Vance appeared unfazed, calmly sipping his drink and casually waving to those below, remarking, “You ruined this place!”
This event follows Trump’s dramatic announcement on February 7 via Truth Social, where he declared his intent to make the Kennedy Center “great again.” Trump named himself Chairman of the Board, while Vice President Vance’s wife, Usha, was appointed to the newly restructured board. Trump also appointed MAGA loyalist Richard Grenell as the center’s interim executive director.
“At my direction, we are going to make the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C., GREAT AGAIN. I have decided to immediately terminate multiple individuals from the Board of Trustees, including the Chairman, who do not share our Vision for a Golden Age in Arts and Culture. We will soon announce a new Board, with an amazing Chairman, DONALD J. TRUMP.”
The Kennedy Center confirmed in a statement that it hadn’t received official communication from the White House regarding these board alterations. Still, it acknowledged some trustees had individually been notified of their termination.
“Per the Center’s governance established by Congress in 1958, the chair of the board of trustees is appointed by the Center’s board members. There is nothing in the Center’s statute that would prevent a new administration from replacing board members; however, this would be the first time such action has been taken with the Kennedy Center’s board.”
Trump elaborated on his motives for assuming control of the Kennedy Center during a press interaction aboard Air Force One en route to the 2025 Super Bowl. He criticized the institution’s “woke” programming and described the productions as “terrible.”
In an X post last month, Trump declared, “NO MORE DRAG SHOWS, OR OTHER ANTI-AMERICAN PROPAGANDA — ONLY THE BEST.”
Meanwhile, Grenell described the audience’s reaction as “intolerant.”
Following Trump’s intervention, the Kennedy Center has experienced significant disruptions, including the cancellation of over 20 performances.
Notably, “Hamilton” creator Lin-Manuel Miranda and the musical’s lead producer Jeffrey Seller announced they are canceling their planned run of shows at the venue in light of the Trump administration’s takeover.
Miranda’s acclaimed musical focusing on Alexander Hamilton and the origins of American democracy, set to tour until 2026, was anticipated to show at the venue from March 3 to April 26 next year.
In an interview with The New York Times, Miranda said his perception of the center had changed.
“This latest action by Trump means it’s not the Kennedy Center as we knew it. The Kennedy Center was not created in this spirit, and we’re not going to be a part of it while it is the Trump Kennedy Center. We’re just not going to be part of it.”
Seller shared a similar sentiment, speaking about how the center has now become affiliated with a specific political party.
“It became untenable for us to participate in an organization that had become so deeply politicized. The Kennedy Center is for all of us, and it pains me deeply that they took it over and changed that. They said it’s not for all of us. It’s just for Donald Trump and his crowd. So we made a decision. We can’t do it.”
The restructuring has met with significant backlash. Internal sources speaking anonymously to The Washington Post cited steep declines in ticket sales, coinciding with the leadership upheaval. This aligns ironically with White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt’s previous assertion that venues engaging in “woke” programming risk financial ruin.
Trump later admitted he had never personally attended a Kennedy Center performance, stating he had avoided them based solely on negative reports. “No, I got reports they were so bad…I didn’t want to go. There was nothing I wanted to see,” he said.
“I want to make sure it runs properly. We don’t need woke at the Kennedy Center, and we don’t need — some of the shows were terrible. They were a disgrace that they were even put on. So I’ll be there until such time that it is running right.”
Several prominent artists have taken a stand against the new management. Shonda Rhimes stepped down from her role as the center’s treasurer in protest. Actress and comedian Issa Rae was the first high-profile figure to cancel her appearance, followed swiftly by Canadian author Louise Penny, signaling strong resistance from the artistic community against the Trump administration’s direction.
Moumita Basuroychowdhury is a Contributing Reporter at The National Digest. After earning an economics degree at Cornell University, she moved to NYC to pursue her MFA in creative writing. She enjoys reporting on science, business and culture news. You can reach her at moumita.b@thenationaldigest.com.
