Kennedy Center President Criticizes Hamilton Team Over Boycott Dispute

Kennedy Center President Richard Grenell criticized the team behind the musical Hamilton, including producer Jeffrey Seller and creator Lin-Manuel Miranda, for boycotting the center due to political disagreements following President Donald Trump's takeover of the institution. Grenell expressed disappointment that the Hamilton duo refused to perform for audiences whose political views differ from theirs, calling their actions a politicization of the arts. The controversy centers around a Pride concert titled Love Is Love, coordinated with five Democratic senators, which Grenell described as an invite-only political event disguised as a talent show by Senator John Hickenlooper. Despite the Hamilton team's cancellation of planned performances at the Kennedy Center, they proceeded with a Monday performance linked to the protest. Grenell also addressed broader tensions at the Kennedy Center since Trump's appointment, noting other artists' withdrawals and emphasizing the center's openness to all audiences regardless of politics. He accused Democratic lawmakers of misusing the venue for political stunts, highlighting ongoing cultural conflicts amid the center's leadership changes.