Vice President JD Vance at Kennedy Center

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JD Vance sat down at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. on Thursday night when he met a wave of boos to participate in a national symphony orchestra performance. The audience burst into Boos for more than 30 seconds, an unusually loud political response from a venue usually known for its quiet etiquette. Videoon Richard Grenell, a loyal Trump supporter and interim president of the Kennedy Center, responded to the incident on Friday: “It bothers me, seeing so many viewers seem white and have a lewd impact on a wide variety of political views. Diversity is our strength. We must do better. The Trump administration actively dismantled the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiative, with its executive actions targeting the DEI program and education policy in the workplace to address systemic inequality. Trump also publicly criticized diversity-centric efforts in the arts, claiming they pushed the “wake up” agenda. Many staff at the Kennedy Center spoke anonymously to the Washington Post, acknowledging that they were confused by Grenell's sudden embrace of inclusion, especially as Trump's new board has actively reshape the agency's leadership and programming. Since his Newly appointed board ousted longtime Kennedy Center president Deborah Rutter and installed Grenell, multiple high-profile artists have cut ties with the institution, including:•Ben Folds (musician)•Renée Fleming (opera singer)•Shonda Rhimes (TV producer, creator of Scandal and Bridgerton)Additionally, major performances,such as Hamilton and an event featuring Issa Rae, have been canceled in order to protest change. Ray specifically cited the infringement of the institution’s values as the reason for her withdrawal. The Kennedy Center, originally conceived as President John Kennedy’s Memorial for Life, has been a beacon of artistic expression and inclusion. But as Trump and his allies are now under control, the future of the institution and its commitment to diversity, artistic freedom and political neutrality are under intense debate.

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