Kennedy Center Sales Drop Amid Trump-Led Changes

Subscription sales at the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts have declined sharply, with overall sales down about 36% and revenue falling by $1.6 million since President Donald Trump assumed leadership and installed new management in early 2025. Theater and dance subscriptions have seen particularly steep decreases of 82% and 57%, respectively. Staff members, citing mismanagement by the new leadership, attribute the downturn to controversial administrative changes and allege that dissenters are being ignored or fired. The Kennedy Center’s leadership disputes the negative assessment, arguing that later campaign launches and new subscription options make year-over-year comparisons unreliable. The Center, operating on a $268 million budget, continues to rely on donations and ticket sales alongside subscriptions. In response to the upheaval, the institution is reportedly pivoting toward more family-friendly programming.