{"id":2532212,"date":"2026-01-09T22:22:01","date_gmt":"2026-01-10T03:22:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/washington-national-opera-leaving-trump-kennedy-center\/"},"modified":"2026-01-09T22:25:28","modified_gmt":"2026-01-10T03:25:28","slug":"washington-national-opera-leaving-trump-kennedy-center","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/washington-national-opera-leaving-trump-kennedy-center\/","title":{"rendered":"Washington National Opera leaving Trump-Kennedy Center"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">12<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fwashington-national-opera-leaving-trump-kennedy-center%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2532212&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>Teh Washington National Opera announced it is ending its <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/look-how-many-corporations-backed-out-of-pride-month-this-year-is-the-movement-over\/\" title=\"Look How Many Corporations Backed Out of ...Pride... Month This Year: Is the Movement Over?\">long-standing affiliation<\/a> with the Trump-Kennedy Center and will reduce its spring season and move performances to other venues. The opera said the center&#8217;s new business model-requiring productions to be fully funded in advance-was incompatible with opera operations and budgetary prudence. While the company did not explicitly blame President Trump for the split, artistic director Francesca Zambello has said the center&#8217;s takeover and resulting audience protests and falling ticket sales made leaving a possibility. There were internal disagreements and some board resignations over the decision. The move follows a wave of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/fact-check-have-these-artists-pulled-their-music-from-spotify\/\" title=\"FACT CHECK: Have These Artists Pulled Their Music From Spotify?\">high-profile artists<\/a> and groups canceling or cutting ties after the kennedy Center&#8217;s leadership was replaced with Trump appointees and the venue&#8217;s name was changed.The Trump-Kennedy center called the relationship &#8220;financially challenging&#8221; and said the separation is mutually beneficial.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">Washington National Opera leaving Trump-Kennedy Center<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_2453810\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p>The Washington National Opera <span style=\"box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;\">announced on Friday that it is ending its decade<\/span>slong partnership with the&nbsp;Trump-Kennedy Center, which has become the subject of sweeping controversy following President Donald Trump&rsquo;s takeover of the institution.<\/p>\n<p>Unlike a stream of other <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/entertainment\/4364489\/kennedy-center-new-years-eve-shows-canceled-trump-renaming\/\">leading artists and groups <\/a>that have cut ties with the country&rsquo;s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/trump-dines-with-smithsonian-director-amid-push-to-remove-divisive-narratives-from-institution\/\" title=\"Trump dines with Smithsonian director amid push to remove \u2018divisive\u2019 narratives from institution\">leading cultural center<\/a> in recent months, the opera did not cite Trump as a reason for leaving the institution this week. Instead, the organization said its decision stemmed from the center&rsquo;s new business model, which &ldquo;requires productions to be fully funded in advance, a requirement incompatible with opera operations.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<div class=\"recommended-stories\">\n<h2>Recommended Stories<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/entertainment\/4412748\/democrats-tried-take-out-trump-justice-system-2024-joe-concha\/\">Democrats tried to &#8216;take out&#8217; Trump in the justice system ahead of 2024: Joe Concha<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/premium\/4410819\/french-actress-brigitte-bardot-death\/\">Brigitte Bardot, 1934&ndash;2025<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/premium\/4407794\/decade-without-david-bowie\/\">A decade without David Bowie<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>&ldquo;To <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/ssa-details-over-800-million-in-savings-in-fiscal-2025\/\" title=\"SSA details over 0 million in savings in fiscal 2025\">ensure fiscal prudence<\/a> and fulfill its obligations for a balanced budget, the WNO will reduce its spring season and relocate performances to new venues,&rdquo; the opera said in a statement. &ldquo;This is a decision centered on doing what is best for the WNO going forward after an amicable transition.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Francesca Zambello, the opera&rsquo;s artistic director, told the&nbsp;<em>Guardian<\/em> <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/us-news\/2025\/nov\/07\/washington-national-opera-kennedy-center\">in November<\/a> 2025 that leaving the center was a possibility as a result of Trump&rsquo;s &ldquo;takeover,&rdquo; citing low ticket sales and explaining that she receives daily messages of protest from formerly loyal members of the audience.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;They say things like: &lsquo;I&rsquo;m never setting foot in there until the &ldquo;orange menace&rdquo; is gone.&rsquo; Or: &lsquo;Don&rsquo;t you know history? Don&rsquo;t you know what Hitler did? I refuse to give you a penny,&rsquo;&rdquo; Zambello said. &ldquo;People send me back their season brochure shredded in an envelope and say: &lsquo;Never, never, will I return while he&rsquo;s in power.&rsquo;&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>There were disagreements among the opera&rsquo;s board over whether or not to depart, with some board members resigning, <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.fox5dc.com\/news\/washington-national-opera-leaves-kennedy-center\">according to<\/a> Fox 5 DC.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>The opera had called the Kennedy Center, recently renamed in honor of Trump, home since opening in 1971. But the opera company said this week that the &ldquo;affiliation was never intended to be permanent.&rdquo;&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>A Trump-Kennedy Center spokesperson referenced a &ldquo;financially challenging relationship&rdquo; with opera as the reason for the company&rsquo;s departure.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;We believe this represents the best path forward for both organizations and enables us to make responsible choices that support the financial stability and long-term future of the Trump Kennedy Center,&rdquo; the spokesperson said.<\/p>\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/white-house\/4356419\/joyce-beatty-sues-trump-grenell-kennedy-center-name-change\/\"><strong>BEATTY SUES TRUMP AND GRENELL OVER KENNEDY CENTER NAME CHANGE&nbsp;<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p>The development marks the opera organization as the <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >latest high-profile artistic presence<\/a> to leave the revered cultural arts institution after Trump ousted the previous leadership early last year and arranged for himself to head the board of trustees. The board is now made entirely of Trump appointees. The president&rsquo;s name <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/white-house\/3926399\/kennedy-center-changing-name-to-trump-kennedy-center-after-unanimous-vote\/\">was added to the center&rsquo;s title<\/a> last month, sparking a fresh wave of cancellations.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Among those who have boycotted were the Cookers, who pulled out of two shows scheduled for New Year&rsquo;s Eve, and Chuck Redd, who <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/white-house\/4361874\/kennedy-center-jazz-performance-canceled-trump-renaming-fight\/\">abruptly canceled <\/a>the Kennedy Center&rsquo;s annual Christmas Eve &ldquo;Jazz Jams&rdquo; he had overseen since 2006.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Washington Opera exits Trump-Kennedy Center<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3142,"featured_media":2532213,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/AP25353699889721.jpg?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[538],"tags":[50057,70528,51750,70527],"class_list":["post-2532212","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-washington-examiner","tag-kennedy-center","tag-opera-2","tag-trump-organization","tag-washington-national-opera"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/AP25353699889721.jpg?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2532212","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3142"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2532212"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2532212\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2532216,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2532212\/revisions\/2532216"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2532213"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2532212"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2532212"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2532212"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}