Vice President JD Vance arrived at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. during a National Symphony Orchestra concert. He was met with loud boos on Thursday night, sending a clear message of resistance from the audience. Vance visited the performance with his wife, and many report she was visibly distressed by the reaction from the audience. The situation took a surprising turn when Kennedy Center interim President Richard Grenell, a prominent Trump ally, responded by calling for “diversity and inclusion.”
Let’s pause a moment and take that in. Richard Grenell asked for respect for JD Vance at Kennedy Center because of respect for diversity and inclusion. (LONG PAUSE). Grenell, who was appointed to his position by Trump’s board of trustees, sent an internal email to Kennedy Center staff the next morning, expressing disappointment over the audience’s reaction to Vance and his wife. He wrote, “I received several messages from Kennedy Center staffers sharing their embarrassment over more than a few Symphony patrons loudly booing the Vice President and his wife last night…We must work to make the Kennedy Center a place where everyone is welcomed.”
Grenell, known for his vocal opposition to progressive policies, suddenly embraced diversity. He said, “As President, I take diversity and inclusion very seriously. We must welcome EVERYONE at the Kennedy Center.” This sudden pivot to inclusivity raised eyebrows, especially in light of the Trump administration’s ongoing dismantling of queer and diversity initiatives. Critics point to the irony of Grenell’s statement given the recent erasure of LGBTQ programming at the Kennedy Center, including canceled events like the WorldPride concert and the Gay Men’s Chorus performance.
