Béla Fleck has cancelled his appearance at the Kennedy Centre after Donald Trump’s name was attached to the institution.
The Kennedy Centre was recently renamed the Donald J Trump and the John F Kennedy Memorial Centre for the Performing Arts, shortened to the Trump-Kennedy Centre, following a December 2025 vote by its board, which Trump controls.
In a statement on social media, the world-renowned American banjoist explained why he withdrew from appearing at the venue.
“I have withdrawn from my upcoming performance with the NSO (National Symphony Orchestra) at The Kennedy Centre. Performing there has become charged and political, at an institution where the focus should be on the music,” Fleck announced.
The Grammy-winning musician continued, “I look forward to playing with the NSO another time in the future when we can together share and celebrate art.”
The banjo artist is not the first to opt out of performing at the Kennedy Centre following the name change.
Stephen Schwartz recently told Deadline he would not be part of an event planned for later this year.
“I was part of the original event that opened the Kennedy Centre, the Bernstein Mass. The Kennedy Centre was founded to be an apolitical home for artists of all nationalities and all ideologies,” read the statement. “It is no longer apolitical, and appearing there has become an ideological statement. As long as that remains the case, I will not appear there.”
Other artists who have cancelled appearances include The Cookers, Billy Hart, Doug Varone and Dancers, Chuck Redd, Kristy Lee, and more.
