After more members of the audience became aware of Vance’s presence, the boos grew in unison, causing Vance to take a sip of his drink and wave at the audience sitting below him.

J.D. Vance Booed at Kennedy Center Performance After Donald Trump Took Over Leadership

Vice President J.D. Vance was booed while watching a performance at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts after President Donald Trump took over leadership.

According to a video shared by The Guardian global affairs correspondent Andrew Roth on X, Thursday, March 13, Vance, 40, was quickly booed as he prepared to watch the National Symphony Orchestra and Greek violinist Leonidas Kavakos perform Stravinsky’s Petrushka from a balcony seat. His wife, Usha Vance, was seen accompanying him.

After more members of the audience became aware of Vance’s presence, the boos grew in unison, causing Vance to take a sip of his drink and wave at the audience sitting below him. As he continued speaking with his wife, the boos continued and lasted roughly 30 seconds, per The New York Times.

The response to Vance’s attendance at the Kennedy Center comes after Trump announced on the Truth Social platform Friday, Feb. 7, that he was taking control of the performing arts and cultural center.

“At my direction, we are going to make the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C., GREAT AGAIN. I have decided to immediately terminate multiple individuals from the Board of Trustees, including the Chairman, who do not share our Vision for a Golden Age in Arts and Culture. We will soon announce a new Board, with an amazing Chairman, DONALD J. TRUMP,” he wrote at the time.

The Kennedy Center responded and said it had not received any communications from the White House regarding changes to our board of trustees, but was “aware that some members of our board have received termination notices from the administration.”

On Sunday, Feb. 9, while taking questions aboard Air Force One en route to the 2025 Super Bowl, Trump shared why he was interested in taking over the Kennedy Center.