Richard Grenell, the president of the Kennedy Center, raged online as another artist pulled out of a scheduled show after the arts institution was rebranded.
In December, the board voted to rename the memorial to the late President John F. Kennedy to include Donald Trump’s name.
That same board was earlier overhauled and replaced with Trump allies, including Grenell, when the U.S. president initiated a takeover of the institution after he took office.
Highlights
- The Kennedy Center was renamed to include Donald J. Trump's name after a board overhaul led by Trump allies, sparking controversy and cancellations.
- Acclaimed banjoist Béla Fleck withdrew from performances, citing the center’s shift to a political focus rather than purely on music.
- President Richard Grenell blamed a 'woke mob' for artist cancellations and called for nonpolitical performers to entertain all audiences.
Kennedy Center President Richard Grenell fumed as another artist pulled out
Image credits: Paul Morigi/Getty Images
Members of the December call disputed the administration’s claims that the decision was unanimous, alleging they were muted when voicing objections.
Since the center was renamed ‘The Donald J. Trump and The John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts’ and Trump’s name was added to the building, several artists have canceled scheduled appearances.
The latest to do so is acclaimed banjoist Béla Fleck, who has been nominated for a Grammy Award 43 times, going on to win 18 of those.
Fleck was due to perform with the National Symphony Orchestra for three dates next month in American Mosaic, described by the center as a “true celebration of American music.”
“I have withdrawn from my upcoming performance with the NSO at The Kennedy Center,” the statement read. “Performing there has become charged and political, at an institution where the focus should be on the music.
“I look forward to playing with the NSO another time in the future when we can together share and celebrate art.”
In response to the cancellation, Grenell fumed on social media that Fleck had been the one to make the performance political.
“You just made it political and caved to the woke mob who wants you to perform for only Lefties,” he wrote. “This mob pressuring you will never be happy until you only play for Democrats.”
“The Trump Kennedy Center believes all people are welcome - Democrats and Republicans and people uninterested in politics. We want performers who aren’t political - who simply love entertaining everyone regardless of who they voted for.”
In an interview with The Washington Post, Fleck said he wanted to be non-political and that the center had become so “charged” he would be taking a political decision by playing there.
“As this Kennedy Center thing became more and more charged, it wasn’t any longer something where I’m under the radar playing this gig,” he said.
He added, “Then the reaction of Richard Grenell is exactly what I’m talking about. That’s what I don’t want to be a part of. Now his point of view is like, ‘Okay, well, you’re the one who cancels, so you’re taking a side.’ But for me, not canceling is taking a side.”
Béla Fleck said ‘not canceling is taking a side’
Image credits: Erika Goldring/Getty Images
On the official website, which has also been rebranded as The Trump Kennedy Center, a program for the event has been updated to state Fleck will no longer be performing for “personal reasons.”
“Due to personal issues Béla Fleck regrettably has to withdraw from his performances with the National Symphony Orchestra on February 19, 21 & 22, 2026,” a note read.
“American Mosaic will now feature NSO Principal Clarinet Lin Ma performing Aaron Copland’s Clarinet Concerto. The rest of the program will remain the same.”
Fleck’s cancellation comes after Wicked composer and lyricist Stephen Schwartz pulled out of a scheduled appearance at the center in protest of the name change.
Image credits: Celal Gunes/Anadolu via Getty Images
The three-time Academy Award winner was scheduled to host the Washington National Opera Gala at the Kennedy Center on May 16, but canceled it, citing that the arts institution “no longer represents the apolitical place for free artistic expression it was founded to be.”
“There’s no way I would set foot in it now,” he added.
Jazz group The Cookers, dance company Doug Varone and Dancers, and singer Kristy Lee also canceled their events in December, while drummer Chuck Redd canceled his Christmas Eve Jazz Jam, an annual tradition since 2006.
In early February 2025, Trump removed 18 existing board members, including Chairman David Rubenstein, and appointed himself as the new chairman.
Many of the dismissed board members were appointed during former President Joe Biden’s administration.
Before the takeover, the Kennedy Center historically maintained a bipartisan board.