Booing Erupts as VP Vance Attends National Symphony Concert

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Vice President JD Vance faced a tumultuous reception when he attended a National Symphony Orchestra concert Thursday evening at the Kennedy Center, culminating in significant audience backlash.

As Vance and his wife, Usha, settled into their seats in the box tier, a chorus of boos and jeers erupted from the crowd. The reaction was so overwhelming that it drowned out the normal pre-concert announcements, bringing the performance to an unexpected halt.

Vance responded to the uproar with a smile and a wave, even as audience members shouted, “You ruined this place!” The incident marked an extraordinary deviation from the typically decorous atmosphere characterizing classical music events.

The vice president’s arrival was delayed by a comprehensive Secret Service security check, which caused concert start time to be postponed by 25 minutes. Despite the disruption, the concert proceeded with a program featuring Shostakovich’s second violin concerto and Stravinsky‘s Petrushka, although the evening began on a shaky note.

Richard Grenell, interim director of the Kennedy Center and a political ally of former President Trump, characterized the audience’s reaction as “intolerant.” He became the center of controversy himself when he, alongside 13 trustees, took over the Kennedy Center, asserting that they intended to revoke what they deemed “woke” programming.

Vance’s tenure has invoked resistance from various artists and productions at the center. Notable cancellations have included a schedule change affecting a musical slated for 2026, alongside protests from performers like traditional musicians Nora Brown and Stephanie Coleman, who displayed banners demanding inclusiveness in programming.

Vance’s controversial stance on cultural issues, including past comments about his surprise at people enjoying classical music, has fueled public dissent. In a 2016 interview, he remarked, “I was astonished when I learned that people listened to classical music for pleasure,” reflecting on the cultural divides he perceived between different socioeconomic classes.

During an interview at the Conservative Political Action Conference earlier this year, Vance articulated his position against what he termed a suppression of masculinity in modern culture, stating, “I think our culture sends a message to young men that you should suppress every masculine urge.”

This cultural tussle has gained particular traction amid ongoing discussions related to Vance’s influence and the evolving landscape of artistic expression at the Kennedy Center, a venue traditionally celebrated for its inclusivity of diverse artistic voices.