Richard Grenell reveals X account hacked after posting about Washington Opera leaving Kennedy Center

WASHINGTON, DC: Richard Grenell said Saturday, Jan 10, that his X account was hacked overnight, resulting in the deletion of multiple posts addressing the Washington National Opera’s decision to leave the Kennedy Center.

The claim comes amid mounting scrutiny over sweeping changes at the iconic arts institution following the Trump administration’s takeover.

Grenell, who serves as president of the Kennedy Center, made the announcement on X on Saturday, January 10, telling followers that posts related to the opera company’s exit, as well as media corrections he had shared, were removed without his consent.

Richard Grenell says posts were deleted after overnight hack

“I have alerted @x that someone hacked my account last night and deleted my content on our Opera announcement and media corrections,” Grenell wrote.

He added that the social media platform was investigating the incident and vowed to restore the missing posts. “X will find the hacker and deal with him/her. I will re-post the statements from last night once they are recovered. Stand by,” Grenell told followers.

The deleted posts reportedly addressed the Washington National Opera’s announcement that it would seek an early end to its long-standing relationship with the Kennedy Center, a move that has intensified debate around leadership changes and programming shifts at the venue.

Washington National Opera confirms plans to leave Kennedy Center

On Friday, Jan 9, the Washington National Opera confirmed to The New York Times that it plans to separate from the Kennedy Center after more than five decades.

In a statement, WNO said it had “announced its decision to seek an amicable early termination of its affiliation agreement with the Kennedy Center and resume operations as a fully independent nonprofit entity.”

The decision follows a string of high-profile cancellations since the Trump administration assumed control of the Kennedy Center. Among the canceled performances were appearances by Béla Fleck, the Brentano Quartet with violist Hsin-Yun Huang, jazz musician Chuck Redd, author and producer Issa Rae, and the touring production of Hamilton.

The cancellations have sparked backlash from artists and arts advocates, many of whom argue that the venue’s artistic independence has been compromised.

Grenell defends Trump-era changes at the Kennedy Center

In recent weeks, Grenell has emerged as one of the most vocal defenders of the Trump administration’s influence over the Kennedy Center. He has publicly touted what he described as a reshaping of the Center’s annual programming and dismissed criticism from artists and left-leaning commentators.

Grenell has also framed the pushback as politically motivated, arguing that opposition to the changes is rooted in ideology rather than concern for the arts.

That framing continued in his response to the alleged hacking incident.

Richard Grenell blames ‘the Left’ for silencing attempts

After regaining control of his account, Grenell accused political opponents of attempting to suppress his messaging.

“The Left continues to try and silence people they don’t agree with, but they will never succeed,” he wrote in a follow-up post on Saturday.

The claim added another layer of controversy to an already charged moment for the Kennedy Center, which has become a flashpoint in broader debates over politics, culture and public institutions.

As of Saturday evening, X had not publicly commented on Grenell’s hacking allegation, and it remained unclear who was responsible for the deleted posts or whether the incident was under active investigation.