Lin-Manuel Miranda’s groundbreaking musical “Hamilton” will not perform at the Kennedy Center next year, with its creator explicitly citing President Trump’s recent overhaul of the institution’s leadership and governance structure. The cancellation removes a centerpiece attraction from the Kennedy Center’s planned celebration of the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence and marks a significant moment in the ongoing debate about political influence over America’s cultural institutions.

Miranda Rejects the “Trump Kennedy Center”

“This latest action by Trump means it’s not the Kennedy Center as we knew it,” Miranda stated in a joint interview with the show’s lead producer, Jeffrey Seller. “The Kennedy Center was not created in this spirit, and we’re not going to be a part of it while it is the Trump Kennedy Center. We’re just not going to be part of it.”

The decision follows President Trump’s removal of Democratic members from the center’s previously bipartisan board, his assumption of the chairmanship position, and the appointment of Richard Grenell as the institution’s new president. These changes have transformed what was historically a nonpartisan cultural landmark into what critics describe as an increasingly politicized institution.

Producer Cites “Deeply Politicized” Environment

Seller elaborated on the reasoning behind the withdrawal, stating that the “Hamilton” team believed Trump “took away our national arts center for all of us.”

“It became untenable for us to participate in an organization that had become so deeply politicized,” he explained. “The Kennedy Center is for all of us, and it pains me deeply that they took it over and changed that. They said it’s not for all of us. It’s just for Donald Trump and his crowd. So we made a decision we can’t do it.”

The production team has confirmed they will announce alternative Washington-area performances soon, ensuring that audiences in the region will still have an opportunity to see the show. While the Kennedy Center had announced “Hamilton” would be staged there in 2026, no contract had been finalized, and tickets had not yet gone on sale.

Grenell Pushes Back Against Cancellation

The Kennedy Center’s new president, Richard Grenell, characterized the cancellation as “a publicity stunt that will backfire” in a social media post. He accused Miranda of being “intolerant of people who don’t agree with him politically” and claimed that Miranda and Seller “don’t want Republicans going to their shows.”

“Americans see you, Lin,” Grenell wrote, escalating the public disagreement into a broader cultural debate about inclusivity, political viewpoints, and the role of the arts in American society.

History of Tension Between “Hamilton” and Trump

This is not the first clash between “Hamilton” and Trump-aligned officials. In 2016, shortly after Trump’s first election victory, the cast delivered a curtain call message to then Vice President-elect Mike Pence, who was in the Broadway audience. They asked that the incoming administration “uphold our American values” and “work on behalf of all of us.”

That incident prompted Trump to demand an apology and claim that the show was “highly overrated.” In contrast, the musical enjoyed a warm relationship with the Obama administration, with Miranda performing what would become material from “Hamilton” at the White House in 2009.

Part of a Broader Artistic Exodus

The “Hamilton” cancellation represents the most high-profile departure from the Kennedy Center’s programming since Trump’s leadership changes, but it is not the only one. Musicians Rhiannon Giddens and actress Issa Rae have also canceled performances, while soprano Renée Fleming and singer-songwriter Ben Folds have resigned from advisory positions with the center and its affiliated organizations.

Melissa Errico, a musical theater performer, also announced on Wednesday that her World War I-themed concert, “The Story of a Rose,” would relocate from the Kennedy Center to a venue in Northern Virginia. While Errico cited seating capacity concerns, she also acknowledged: “I’m glad at how it turned out. I wanted to do a show that everyone could attend — left, right and center.”

Uncertain Future for Arts Programming

The Kennedy Center is now navigating a transformation period under new leadership. Trump has expressed his “vision for a Golden Age in arts and culture,” though he has not provided specific details of what this might entail. Grenell has promised “a big, huge celebration of the birth of Christ at Christmas,” though the center has regularly featured Christmas-themed programming in the past.

While most of this season’s theater programming appears to remain intact, industry insiders suggest next season’s lineup could face significant changes. Meredith Blair, president and chief executive of the Booking Group, which arranges tours for Broadway shows, indicated that several productions that had planned to perform at the Kennedy Center next season but had not yet announced those plans are now quietly canceling.

The Bottom Line

The withdrawal of “Hamilton” from the Kennedy Center represents more than just a scheduling change—it signifies a growing tension between artistic expression and political governance of cultural institutions. As the Tony and Pulitzer Prize-winning musical about America’s founding principles withdraws from the nation’s preeminent cultural center during a celebration of American independence, the irony is difficult to ignore.

The decision raises profound questions about who controls America’s cultural spaces, the independence of artistic expression, and how institutions navigate an increasingly polarized political landscape. Whether this represents an isolated incident or the beginning of a broader artistic exodus from the Kennedy Center remains to be seen.