Here's who's canceled their Kennedy Center performances since Trump took over
NPR • • entertainment
Key Points:
- Since President Donald Trump became chairman of the Kennedy Center's board in February 2025, numerous artists and performance groups have canceled appearances, citing political concerns and changes in the center's leadership and policies.
- Notable cancellations include the touring production of Hamilton, Washington National Opera, The Martha Graham Dance Company, Béla Fleck, Issa Rae, and others who expressed discomfort with the center's perceived politicization and the proposed renaming of the venue.
- The Washington National Opera cited new funding policies requiring full advance financing as incompatible with its traditional financial model, while others condemned the board's decision to rename the center after Trump, which Congress has not authorized.
- Kennedy Center executive director Richard Grenell condemned the cancellations, accusing artists of yielding to
