Yet another musician has decided to withdraw from a planned performance at the Trump-Kennedy Center out of concern for the president’s current policies.
The Trump-Kennedy Center continues to receive criticism (Image: AFP via Getty Images)
Yet another musical star decided to pull out of a performance at the Kennedy Center after President Donald Trump pushed for a rename of the buidling.
The president sought to call the venue the “Trump-Kennedy Center,” otherwise known as “the Donald J. Trump and the John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts,” in Washington D.C. The board, which was appointed by his administration, voted in favor of the decision in December 2025.
Since the change, artists have dropped out of their slots to perform at the famous venue. Composer Philip Glass, 89, was the latest of those who terminated their plans.
“After thoughtful consideration, I have decided to withdraw my Symphony No. 15 ‘Lincoln’ from the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts,” he wrote in a statement to The Washington Post. “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. Therefore, I feel an obligation to withdraw this Symphony premiere from the Kennedy Center under its current leadership.”
The American composer was previously honored with the the Kennedy Center Honors in 2018 by President Joe Biden. He is renowned for his contribution to the field of music, and best known for experimental operas like “Einstein on the Beach,” “Satyagraha” and “Akhnaten,” which typically highlight historical figures.
The composer felt the integrity of his symphony was jeopardized (Image: AFP/Getty Images)
Specifically, Symphony No. 15: Lincoln was commissioned for the Kennedy Center itself, with an emphasis on reflecting President Abraham Lincoln’s legacy, a task that Philip feels it no longer can live up to.
“I think there is no American subject matter more interesting than Abraham Lincoln,” he previously said in reflection of the musical piece. “I read him almost like I would a writer, not a politician or someone in government. There’s a beautiful music to his writing.”
Before the choice to axe the performance, the production already experienced a slew of setbacks. The original release was meant for March 2022, and it was initially pushed back to October 2022. However, it was now meant to be showcased in an ongoing series by the center called “250 Years of Us,” highlighting America’s rich history.
Philip wasn’t alone in his decision to withdraw from the center’s programming plans. Banjoist Béla Fleck was an early canceller with Stephen Schwartz, the composer of “Wicked,” making a similar decision shortly after.
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