US Vice President JD Vance was booed by the audience at the Kennedy Center as he arrived for a National Symphony Orchestra concert on Thursday.
The jeering began as Vance and his wife, Usha, took their seats, momentarily drowning out the venue’s pre-concert announcements. Vance responded with a wave and a smile to the shouts of, “You ruined this place!”
The heightened security around his visit had delayed the concert’s start by 25 minutes, as audience members underwent Secret Service checks upon entry.
The strong reaction comes amid growing controversy over Trump’s recent takeover of the Kennedy Center. In February, Trump dismissed the institution’s chairman and 13 trustees, appointing himself chair and installing his ally Richard Grenell as interim director. Usha Vance was also named to the board. Trump justified his decision by stating, “We didn’t like what they were showing… There’s no more woke in this country.”
The changes have sparked resistance. The producers of Hamilton canceled a planned 2026 run at the Kennedy Center, while other artists have also withdrawn. A group performing at the Millennium Stage protested by displaying banners reading, “Reinstate queer programming” and “Creativity at the Kennedy Center must not be suppressed.”
Trump’s broader influence over the Kennedy Center has extended to programming decisions. In February, the center canceled a planned performance by the Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington DC that was set to coincide with Pride celebrations.