If Vice President J.D. Vance and his wife expected a nice evening at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, they were mistaken.
What they got instead was a chorus of boos Thursday night, per People.
The Vances were there to watch National Symphony Orchestra and Greek violinist Leonidas Kavakos perform Stravinsky’s “Petrushka” from a balcony seat.
“The Guardian” global affairs correspondent Andrew Roth posted a video on X of the incident:
One man was heard yelling, “Boo;” another said, “Oh f—.”
The boos grew was more audience members saw Vance, who apparently seemed unphased as the boos lasted roughly 30 seconds, per The New York Times.
The audience’s reaction comes on the heels of President Donald Trump’s announcement on Feb. 7 that he was taking over the performing arts and cultural center.
“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,” Trump posted on social media.
( @realDonaldTrump – Truth Social Post )
— Donald J. Trump
( Donald J. Trump – Feb 07, 2025, 5:27 PM ET )
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… pic.twitter.com/WyYWEDhSE4TRUTH POSTS (@TruthTrumpPosts) February 7, 2025
The Kennedy Center, on the other hand, said it had not been informed of such changes, but added it was “aware that some members of our board have received termination notices from the administration.”
On Sunday, Feb. 9, while taking questions aboard Air Force One en route to the 2025 Super Bowl, Trump explained his interest in taking over the Kennedy Center.
“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,” Trump said aboard Air Force One while going to Super Bowl LIX. “So I’ll be there until such time that it is running right.”
Trump was elected chairman of the board in February, per NPR.
Since then, more than 20 shows have been canceled or postponed, Consequence reported.
