Vice President Vance Booed at Kennedy Center Symphony Performance

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Vice President JD Vance and Second Lady Usha Vance faced a hostile reception at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts on March 13, 2025, where they attended a concert by the National Symphony Orchestra. As the couple entered the auditorium, they were met with loud boos from attendees.

The negative reaction was noted by Guardian reporter Andrew Roth, who tweeted about the situation, stating, “There were mostly boos for JD Vance as he entered tonight’s concert at the Kennedy Center.” Witnesses reported that the jeers intensified as more concert-goers recognized the Vice President and his wife.

The Vances attended the performance, featuring pieces by Igor Stravinsky and Dmitri Shostakovich, highlighted by Greek violinist Leonidas Kavakos performing Shostakovich’s “Violin Concerto No. 2.” Amid the boos, JD Vance appeared to remain composed, sipping wine and exchanging quiet words with his wife while some in the crowd chanted, “They ruin this place, boo!” and “Yeah, January 6th!” referencing the Capitol insurrection.

Despite the protestations, Vance and his wife stayed for the entire concert, which continued after the initial uproar subsided.

In recent months, the Kennedy Center has come under scrutiny due to significant changes in leadership following President Donald Trump’s administration. Last month, a report indicated the dismissal of 18 board members, leading to the appointment of new trustees, including Usha Vance and several notable Trump associates.

Reports from the event highlighted a separate protest taking place, where folk singers Nora Brown and Stephanie Coleman performed nearby. They held signs demanding the reinstatement of LGBTQ+ programming at the Kennedy Center and criticized the perceived suppression of creativity under the new leadership.

Brown and Coleman’s performance was well received, echoing through the venue as they encouraged the audience to participate in an anti-authoritarian anthem. Their signs read, “Art will not submit to your authority, Trump,” capturing the tension surrounding the cultural shift at the Kennedy Center since the recent upheaval.