Vice President JD Vance and his wife, Usha Vance, received a loud and hostile welcome at the Kennedy Center on Thursday night. As they arrived for a concert featuring folk musicians Nora Brown and Stephanie Coleman, many in the audience booed. A viral video on X (formerly Twitter) captured the moment, showing the crowd’s reaction growing louder as more people recognized the couple.
WATCH: JD Vance was met with massive boos at a concert at the Kennedy Center tonightpic.twitter.com/M5DuWzcche
— Republicans against Trump (@RpsAgainstTrump) March 14, 2025
Tensions Rise Between Trump-Vance Administration and the Kennedy Center
Meanwhile, tensions between the Trump-Vance administration and the Kennedy Center have intensified. Earlier this year, President Donald Trump removed the center’s Board of Trustees and appointed himself as chairman. He promised to reshape the institution’s artistic direction. “At my direction, we are going to make the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C., GREAT AGAIN,” Trump declared. He also dismissed multiple board members who, in his view, did not align with his vision for a “Golden Age in Arts and Culture.”
Hamilton Cancels Run in Protest
As a result, the backlash has been significant. The producers of Hamilton, the award-winning musical, decided to cancel its scheduled performances at the Kennedy Center. Producer Jeffrey Seller explained their stance: “Our show simply cannot, in good conscience, participate and be a part of this new culture that is being imposed on the Kennedy Center.”
Trump Appoints Conservative Media Figures to the Board
In addition, Trump recently named Fox News anchors Laura Ingraham and Maria Bartiromo to the Kennedy Center’s 33-member board of trustees. Announcing their appointment on TruthSocial, he stated, “We look forward to restoring the Center to Greatness and ushering in America’s Golden Age. Together we will Make the Arts Great Again!”
What’s Next for the Kennedy Center?
Clearly, the changes at the Kennedy Center have sparked intense debate. While Trump and his supporters see this as a revival of traditional American culture, critics argue it threatens artistic freedom. As the controversy continues, all eyes remain on how the Kennedy Center will evolve under its new leadership.
