Roma Daravi, a spokeswoman for the Trump-Kennedy Center, responded to composer Philip Glass’s cancellation of his latest symphony at the storied arts institution.
“We have no place for politics in the arts, and those calling for boycotts based on politics are making the wrong decision,” Daravi told The Daily Wire. “We have not canceled a single show. Leftist activists are pushing artists to cancel but the public wants artists to perform and create—not cancel under pressure from political insiders that benefit from creating division.”
Daravi, the center’s vice president of public relations, said that they have not canceled any shows and that the center’s aim is unity and celebration of the arts.
The statement comes after composer Philip Glass made headlines for calling off the premiere of his new symphony, “Lincoln,” which the National Symphony Orchestra was scheduled to perform in June.
“Symphony No. 15 is a portrait of Abraham Lincoln, and the values of the Kennedy Center today are in direct conflict with the message of the Symphony,” Glass said in a statement posted to X on Tuesday. “Therefore, I feel an obligation to withdraw this Symphony premiere from the Kennedy Center under its current leadership.”
— Philip Glass (@philipglass) January 27, 2026
The Kennedy Center board voted unanimously in December to rename the Washington, D.C., performing arts venue The Donald J. Trump and The John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts, which caused an uproar among leftists.
Before and after the name change, several artists have canceled their appearances at the center. A run of the musical “Hamilton” was canceled, and actress Issa Rae also called off her show. Jazz musician Chuck Redd was criticized for canceling his Christmas Eve performance days before it was supposed to take place. The center said they would seek $1 million in damages for the abrupt cancellation, as The Daily Wire previously reported.
In early 2025, President Trump ousted the Board of Trustees, named himself Chairman of the Board, and appointed Richard Grenell as interim executive director. Trump wrote at the time, “NO MORE DRAG SHOWS, OR OTHER ANTI-AMERICAN PROPAGANDA.”
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