JD Vance and Second Lady Usha viciously booed and jeered at Kennedy Center concert

WASHINGTON, DC: What was supposed to be a night of elegance and culture turned into an awkward spectacle for Vice President JD Vance.

On Thursday, March 13, Vance and his wife, Second Lady Usha Vance, made their grand entrance at the John F Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, DC. They were there to enjoy a performance by the National Symphony Orchestra and Greek violinist Leonidas Kavakos, featuring Stravinsky’s Petrushka.

But before the music even started, the audience started booing the couple.

A 30-second symphony of boos and profanity

As 40-year-old JD Vance and his wife Usha Vance settled into their balcony seats, the atmosphere quickly shifted from applause to outrage.

According to a video shared by The Guardian’s global affairs correspondent Andrew Roth, the moment Vance took his seat, a man’s voice cut through the auditorium with a simple, “Boo.” Another person could be heard exclaiming, "Oh f**k."

From there, the disapproval only grew louder. But Vance handled it with a casual sip of his drink and a wave, as if greeting his fans instead of critics. But the chorus of boos apparently continued for roughly 30 seconds, as reported by The New York Times.

It was an unmistakable message, and it all tied back to Trump’s recent hostile takeover of the Kennedy Center.

Donald Trump’s Kennedy Center power grab

The timing of JD Vance’s icy reception wasn’t a coincidence. The backlash comes just weeks after President Donald Trump’s decision to seize control of the Kennedy Center.

Last month, Trump announced the takeover on Truth Social: "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."

However, the Kennedy Center claimed they hadn’t received any official communication from the White House about board changes, though they were "aware that some members of our board have received termination notices from the administration".

While speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One on February 9 en route to the 2025 Super Bowl, Trump explained why he wanted control over the Kennedy Center.

“I want to make sure it runs properly. We don’t need woke at the Kennedy Center, and we don’t need — some of the shows were terrible. They were a disgrace that they were even put on," he said. "So I’ll be there until such time that it is running right," he added.

But when asked if he had ever actually seen a performance at the Kennedy Center, he said: "No. I get reports they were so bad … I didn’t want to go. There was nothing I wanted to see.”

Donald Trump makes himself chairman, JD Vance’s wife joins board amid fallout

By Wednesday, February 12, Donald Trump was officially Chairman of the Board. Second Lady Usha Vance was also appointed to the board, as reported by NPR.

Since Trump’s takeover, the Kennedy Center has become a battlefield.

According to Consequence, over 20 shows have been canceled since Trump took control. The backlash didn't stop there.

Actress and writer Issa Rae pulled out of her event, 'An Evening with Issa Rae,' in February. Producer and screenwriter Shonda Rhimes resigned from her role as treasurer.

Acclaimed musician and producer Ben Folds also stepped down from his role as artistic director of the National Symphony Orchestra (NSO).