Vice President J.D. Vance faced a chorus of boos as he arrived at the Kennedy Center in Washington on Thursday night, following President Donald Trump's contentious decision to appoint himself as chairman of the renowned arts institution.
A video recorded by Andrew Roth of The Guardian shows Vance entering his box with his wife, Usha Vance, as the crowd's discontent escalates, with one attendee audibly urging, “Kill that light!” in an apparent effort to obscure his presence.
Despite the hostile reception, Vance maintained his composure, sipping his drink and smiling at the audience. The couple was there to enjoy a performance by the National Symphony Orchestra, a staple of the Kennedy Center since its inception in 1971.
This backlash follows Trump's surprising move in February to take control of the Kennedy Center, citing issues with its programming, including drag shows, and asserting that his leadership would steer the institution away from being "woke."
Trump, who has acknowledged never attending a performance at the venue, was elected chairman of the board on February 12, succeeding David M. Rubenstein, and proceeded to dismiss longtime president Deborah F. Rutter while replacing Biden-appointed board members with his own, including Usha Vance.
This decision has ignited considerable opposition within the entertainment community, with actress Issa Rae canceling her sold-out event and Broadway producer Jeffrey Seller pulling Hamilton from its planned 2026 run at the center.
Notably, producer Shonda Rhimes also resigned from the Kennedy Center Board in protest. As of now, neither the White House nor the Kennedy Center has issued a statement regarding the ongoing controversy.