Lin-Manuel Miranda & Hamilton Want No Part of ‘Trump’s Kennedy Center’
The Broadway phenomenon Hamilton is officially canceling its scheduled run at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C. The decision cites concerns over President Donald Trump’s leadership overhaul of the institution. Lead producer Jeffrey Seller announced that the production, originally set to play from March 3 to April 26, 2026, will no longer be part of the venue’s programming due to its “new culture.”
“Given the recent actions, our show simply cannot, in good conscience, participate and be a part of this new culture that is being imposed on the Kennedy Center,” Seller said in a statement shared on social media, according to CBS News.
Trump’s Self-Appointed Role at the Kennedy Center Raises Concerns
In February, Trump unilaterally named himself chairman of the Kennedy Center after dismissing Democratic members from the board of trustees. According to Variety, he justified the move as an effort to remove “anti-American propaganda.” Similarly, the president vowed to usher in a “Golden Age of American Arts and Culture.”
Richard Grenell, a former ambassador and Trump ally, was subsequently appointed interim executive director. The administration’s immediate changes sparked backlash. In fact, Several artists and performers, including musician Ben Folds, opera singer Renée Fleming, and actress Issa Rae, withdrew from Kennedy Center engagements.
Lin-Manuel Miranda Speaks Out: “It’s Not the Kennedy Center We Knew”
Lin-Manuel Miranda, Hamilton’s creator and original star, was clear about the reasoning behind the decision.
“This latest action by Trump means it’s not the Kennedy Center as we knew it,” Miranda told The New York Times. “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.”
Seller echoed this sentiment, stating that Trump’s control of the Kennedy Center has undermined its “neutrality” and transformed it into a political institution catering only to one side of the spectrum.
“The Kennedy Center is for all of us, and it pains me deeply that they took it over and changed that. They said it’s not for all of us. It’s just for Donald Trump and his crowd. So we made a decision we can’t do it,” Seller told The Times.
Grenell Claps Back, Calling Hamilton Cancellation a “Publicity Stunt”
Trump’s newly appointed Kennedy Center leadership did not take the decision lightly. In a social media post, Grenell criticized Miranda and Seller, accusing them of discrimination against conservatives.
“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,” Grenell wrote on X, formerly Twitter. “This is a publicity stunt that will backfire. The Arts are for everyone – not just for the people who Lin likes and agrees with.”
Trump’s allies have framed Hamilton’s withdrawal as an act of intolerance rather than a stand against partisanship. However, Miranda and Seller maintain that their decision was not about opposing Republican leadership in general. Instead, it’s about rejecting the politicization of an institution that was meant to remain neutral.
Hamilton Joins a Growing List of Artists Exiting the Kennedy Center
The fallout from Trump’s takeover of the Kennedy Center has been swift. Hamilton is just one of several major productions and artists that have distanced themselves from the venue.
As reported by NPR, Grammy-winning folk artist Rhiannon Giddens relocated her scheduled concert to a different venue. She explained: “I cannot in good conscience play at The Kennedy Center with the change in programming direction forced on the institution by this new board.”
Other high-profile resignations and cancellations include Shonda Rhimes, who stepped down from her Kennedy Center advisory role, and the rock band Low Cut Connie, who canceled their performances altogether.
A Business Decision as Well as a Moral One
Beyond the political stance, Seller pointed out that the decision to pull Hamilton was also about protecting the production’s financial and contractual interests.
“‘Hamilton’ is a large and global production, and it would simply be financially and personally devastating to the hundreds of employees of ‘Hamilton’ if the new leadership of the Kennedy Center suddenly canceled or re-negotiated our engagement,” Seller explained.
The producer also expressed concerns over the integrity of contracts under the Trump-appointed board, stating, “The actions of the new Chairman of the Board in recent weeks demonstrate that contracts and previous agreements simply cannot be trusted.”
What’s Next for Hamilton in Washington, D.C.?
Despite withdrawing from the Kennedy Center, Miranda assured fans that Hamilton is not abandoning the D.C. area altogether. The production is actively seeking an alternative venue to ensure that audiences in the region still have access to the show.
As Trump continues to reshape the Kennedy Center’s programming, the institution finds itself at a crossroads. Some artists and audiences choose to stay, while others—like Hamilton—walk away in protest.
