Trump’s Kennedy Center Takeover Prompts Cancellation of ‘Hamilton’ Engagement

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The acclaimed musical ‘Hamilton‘ will no longer perform at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts following President Donald Trump‘s recent takeover of the institution. The show’s producer, Jeffrey Seller, announced the cancellation on March 5, citing the political environment imposed by the new Trump administration.

Seller stated that the decision to withdraw was not a direct condemnation of Trump’s presidency but a response to his administration’s partisan shift at the Kennedy Center. In a statement, he expressed dissatisfaction with the center’s new direction, which he claimed undermines its long-standing bipartisan spirit: “The Kennedy Center was not created in this spirit, and we’re not going to be a part of it while it is the Trump Kennedy Center,” he said.

‘Hamilton’ was slated to run from March 3 to April 26, 2026, as part of celebrations for the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. However, Seller explained that such a performance during Trump’s leadership had become untenable. He added, “It would simply be financially and personally devastating to the hundreds of employees of ‘Hamilton’ if the new leadership of the Kennedy Center suddenly cancels or re-negotiates our engagement.”

Lin-Manuel Miranda, the show’s creator, voiced similar concerns. He remarked, “The recent shift in the Kennedy Center’s ideology and board leadership has made it untenable for a production like ‘Hamilton’ to celebrate and be celebrated there today.” Miranda highlighted that ‘Hamilton’ had previously been performed at the center during Trump’s first term in 2018, illustrating its nonpartisan history previously associated with the venue.

The decision to cancel the performance comes shortly after Trump announced in February that he would reform the center’s board, claiming to eliminate “drag shows and other anti-American propaganda” in favor of a pro-American agenda. Trump’s recent actions include appointing allies to key positions, including Richard Grenell as interim president, following the ouster of Deborah Rutter, the Kennedy Center’s longtime leader.

Seller further explained that the recent “purge” by the Trump administration of staff and events reflects a broader political influence that contradicted the Kennedy Center’s mission to provide a neutral space for the arts. “Some institutions are sacred and should be protected from politics. The Kennedy Center is one such institution,” he stated.

In addition to ‘Hamilton,’ other artists and productions have pulled their engagements from the Kennedy Center due to concerns over its political alignment. Notable figures such as musician Ben Folds and actress Issa Rae have also retracted their participation, indicating a growing backlash against the recent leadership changes.

Despite these controversies, Grenell defended the new direction of the Kennedy Center, accusing Miranda and Seller of intolerance towards those with differing political views. He asserted, “The Arts are for everyone – not just for the people who Lin likes and agrees with.”

The fallout from Trump’s takeover of the Kennedy Center has raised questions about the future of the venue as a platform for artistic expression and its role in American culture. Many continue to call for reinstated programming that reflects diverse perspectives, urging preservation of what the institution was originally meant to symbolize.