Following President Donald Trump‘s transition to the social agency’s command, the musical Hamiltonhas cancelled its plans to execute there. The new administration describes this “publicity prank” as an “intolerant” political move.
The music was scheduled to release in March 2026, but Jeffrey Seller, the lead producer, said in a statement on Wednesday that he could never “in great conscience, join and be a part of this new culture.”
Producer Jeffrey Seller’s speech to Hamilton. photograph. twitter.com/yTLlrzFAHW— Hamilton ( @HamiltonMusical ) March 5, 2025
” We have unfortunately witnessed the destruction of years of Kennedy Center neutrality in recent month.” The new purging by the Trump Administration of both skilled workers and performing arts events at or produced by the Kennedy Center “flies in the face of all this national social center represents,” Sellers said in a statement on the Hamilton music X account.
He then slammed the fire of board members David Rubenstein, the president of the Kennedy Center, and other board users.
In light of his most recent acquisition, Sellers remarked,” We are not acting against his leadership, but rather against the Kennedy Center’s partisan guidelines.”
Trump was appointed to the Kennedy Center table in February, and Richard Grenell, a former Trump ambassador to Germany and current envoy for specific missions, was appointed as his time executive director. The appointed directors for the Biden administration either lost their jobs or resigned.
Grenell shared that he learned following the invasion that the Kennedy Center’s past leaders had left the organization in a dire financial situation.
The Kennedy Center’s CFO informed me immediately about its financial position. She claimed that there is No cash on hand. Additionally, ZERO in deposits. And there is a problem with delayed repair. They have been digging into the DEBT RESERVES for the past few weeks, he said on X.
Grenell responded on Wednesday to Hamilton‘s withdrawal and described it as a political “publicity ploy.”
Let’s get the details right.
Before declaring their intentions to not be in a place with Republicans, Seller and Lin_Manuel first addressed the New York Times to the Kennedy Center.
This is a promotion ploy that will have a negative impact.
People should enjoy the arts, right?
March 5, 2025 — Richard Grenell ( @RichardGrenell ).
“Let’s get the details right. Seller and @Lin_Manuel first went to the New York Times before they came to the Kennedy Center with their announcement that they can’t be in the same room with Republicans,” he wrote on X on Wednesday.
He claimed that this is a promotion ploy that will have an adverse effect.
The Art are for people, not just for Lin’s liking and admiration, Grenell continued in a statement. The American people need to be aware that Lin_Manuel tolerates those who don’t share his political views. It is obvious that he and Businesses do not want Democrats to attend their shows.
” American see you, Lin,” he said.
The father and sun of Hamilton, Lin-Manuel Miranda, has raised money for the Democratic Party and made a strong critic of President Trump. In 2024, he raised funds for past President Joe Biden along with original Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton. President Barack Obama even performed for the Broadway star at the White House.
embedded content ]
The Hamilton sun performed in a Saturday Night Live picture mocking Trump following his opening.
Another shows have also canceled Kennedy Center performances out of politics.
Issa Rae, an artist from HBO’s Insecure, canceled her March 16 present. In opposition of the fresh Trump administration, Arlington, Virginia’s Alfred Street Baptist Church canceled its annual Christmas efficiency.
embedded content ]
The Kennedy Center’s new leadership canceled the Kennedy Center’s organized tour of Finn, a children’s musical about a fresh shark who enjoys bright colors and sparkles and wonders if he might actually be a fish. The Gay area expressed outrage over the musical’s withdrawal, which the Kennedy Center called “purely financial.”
Even when that doesn’t look like what the people ( or sharks ) around you thought it would, it’s an anthem for being yourself. And yes, every queer child, every transgender child, and every nonbinary child has experienced a time when they say,” It’s time to be me.” We created this for them. for ourselves when we were young. In opposition of the withdrawal, the Finn musical posted one of its tracks on Instagram with the hashtag” We would have loved a show like this.”
Despite these delays, The Sound of Music, which may run from September through October 2025, has many great exhibits however coming on stage at the Kennedy Center.
