...
By Gabe Whisnant
News Editor
0
Share
Newsweek is a Trust Project member
See more of our trusted coverage when you search.Prefer Newsweek on Googleto see more of our trusted coverage when you search.
The Washington National Opera said Friday it will end its affiliation with the Trump Kennedy Center, citing financial and operational conflicts, The New York Times first reported Friday.
In a statement, the opera said it hopes for an “amicable transition” as it plans to reduce its spring season and move performances to new venues in Washington. The decision follows changes to the Kennedy Center’s business model requiring productions to be fully funded in advance — a standard the opera called “incompatible with opera operations.”
Newsweek has reached out to the Trump Kennedy Center via email on Friday night for comment.
Read More on News
Why It Matters
The move caps months of turmoil at the Kennedy Center since President Donald Trump replaced its leadership early last year and named himself chairman of the board. His administration’s policies, including a December decision to rebrand the venue as the Trump-Kennedy Center, have prompted cancellations by high-profile artists such as Hamilton creator Lin-Manuel Miranda and musician Peter Wolf. The opera’s announcement did not mention Trump.
...
What To Know
Kennedy Center spokesperson Roma Daravi told The Times the split came after “careful consideration” of what she described as a “financially challenging relationship.”
Opera officials told The Times that the "revenue-neutral" directives, combined with a 40 percent drop in ticket revenue and donor confidence, made staying untenable.
Washington National Opera officials also noted to the newspaper that operas often tackle political and expressed concern they could be barred from staging works that conflict with directives from Trump-Kennedy Center president Ric Grenell, who was hand-picked by the president.
In a November interview with The Guardian, Francesca Zambello, the opera’s artistic director for 14 years, warned the opera might leave the Kennedy Center, saying Trump administration policies had “shattered” donor confidence and caused a 40% drop in ticket revenue.
“If we cannot raise enough money, or sell enough tickets in there, we have to consider other options,” she said. After her comments sparked backlash, Zambello and other leaders reaffirmed their commitment to stay.
Since then, officials told The Times, conditions have only worsened.
Last month, Grenell criticized a musician for canceling a Christmas Eve performance at the venue and threatened him with a $1 million lawsuit after the White House announced that President Trump’s name would be added to the building.
Grenell accused musician Chuck Redd of political intolerance in a letter responding to the sudden withdrawal, which Grenell said came just days before the scheduled free concert. The letter, shared with The Associated Press, said the cancellation was explicitly tied to the recent renaming of the facility.
“Your decision to withdraw at the last moment — explicitly in response to the Center’s recent renaming — is classic intolerance and very costly to a nonprofit arts institution,” Grenell wrote. He said the Kennedy Center would seek $1 million in damages, calling the cancellation a “political stunt.”
The center also canceled multiple New Year's Eve performances.
The wave of cancellations began in February when Trump removed board members and replaced them with supporters. High-profile artists, including Pulitzer winner Rhiannon Giddens, soprano Renée Fleming, and singer-songwriter Ben Folds, resigned advisory roles or canceled performances in protest.
What People Are Saying
Zambello said in a statement, “I am deeply saddened to leave the Kennedy Center. I have been proud to be affiliated with a national monument to the human spirit.”
Kennedy Center spokesperson Roma Daravi told The New York Times, “After careful consideration, we have made the difficult decision to part ways with the WNO due to a financially challenging relationship.”
Daravi told Newsweek last month, "Any artist cancelling their show at the Trump Kennedy Center over political differences isn’t courageous or principled—they are selfish, intolerant, and have failed to meet the basic duty of a public artist: to perform for all people. Art is a shared cultural experience meant to unite, not exclude. The Trump Kennedy Center is a true bipartisan institution that welcomes artists and patrons from all backgrounds—great art transcends politics, and America’s cultural center remains committed to presenting popular programming that inspires and resonates with all audiences."
What Happens Next
Opera officials said new performance sites have been identified and details will be released soon.
Updates: 1/9/26, 7:32 p.m. ET: This article was updated with new information and remarks.
The news cycle is loud. Algorithms push us to extremes. In the middle—where facts, ideas and progress live—there's a void. At Newsweek, we fill it with fearless, fair and fiercely independent journalism.
Common ground isn't just possible—it's essential. Our readers reflect America's diversity, united by a desire for thoughtful, unbiased news. Independent ratings confirm our approach: NewsGuard gives us 100/100 for reliability, and AllSides places us firmly in the political center.
In a polarized era, the center is dismissed as bland. Ours is different: The Courageous Center—it's not "both sides," it's sharp, challenging and alive with ideas. We follow facts, not factions. If that sounds like the kind of journalism you want to see thrive, we need you.
When you become a Newsweek Member, you support a mission to keep the center strong and vibrant. Members enjoy:
Help keep the center courageous. Join today.
View 0 Comments
Submit Correction
View Editorial & AI Guidelines