January 9, 2026
Exit aria, enter drama
Washington National Opera Is Leaving the Kennedy Center
Opera exits stage right as the “Trump Kennedy Center” gets roasted
TLDR: Washington National Opera is leaving the Kennedy Center amid Trump’s takeover, artist boycotts, and financial strain. Commenters roast the “Trump Kennedy Center,” split between politics vs. business, and meme a future lineup of bro-rock while lamenting lost productions and the cringe of branding public culture.
The Washington National Opera just pulled the ripcord on the Kennedy Center, where it’s sung since 1971, and the internet responded with a standing ovation of snark. Many see it as a dramatic rebuke of President Trump’s makeover—he named himself chairman, installed ally Richard Grenell, and slapped “Trump” on the building—while others say it’s simply survival math after empty seats and donors ghosted. One camp is eye-rolling hard at the Leader-branding of a public arts temple; another shrugs, calling it a necessary refresh and a chance to import touring operas.
Memes flew fast: a jokester imagined the White House “denaturalizing Italians” because it “never liked opera anyway,” and another predicted a new calendar heavy on 3 Doors Down and Rob Schneider—cue collective groan at what “patrons wanted a refresh” might mean. Fans lament losing planned shows like Scott Joplin’s “Treemonisha” and “West Side Story,” while the opera teases new D.C. venues (no names yet). Behind the curtain, both sides cite money: WNO will shrink performances to cut costs; the Center calls the relationship financially strained. And yes, the board’s authority to rename the building is disputed, fueling fresh comment wars. For context, see The Times
Key Points
- •Washington National Opera’s board approved a resolution to leave the Kennedy Center and return to independent nonprofit status.
- •The opera will reduce performance numbers and move out of the 2,364-seat Opera House, with new Washington venues identified but not yet leased.
- •WNO will negotiate with the Kennedy Center and executive director Richard Grenell to terminate the 2011 affiliation agreement.
- •The Kennedy Center, under President Trump’s chairmanship and Grenell’s leadership, agreed to part ways, citing a financially challenging relationship.
- •WNO cited declines in attendance and donor contributions, and increasing artist refusals following the addition of Trump’s name to the building; the legality of renaming is disputed.