Rick Grenell, interim director of the Kennedy Center, accused the “Hamilton” producer of “intolerance” of Republicans after cancelling plans to direct a “promotion stunt” and perform at the iconic Washington, D.C. venue.
Hit Broadway musical creator Lynn Manuel Miranda and producer Jeffrey Seller said Wednesday that the decision to pull the plug on upcoming shows at the Kennedy Center was due to President Trump's recent move to replace several board members of the performing arts facility, including the former chairman.
“Let's clarify the facts: with the seller and [Miranda] Grenell, Trump's envoy for special missions, wrote to X:
“This is a backfire propaganda stunt,” added Trump administration officials.
Grenell accused the decision of the Bigs of “Hamilton” who revealed they “don't want Republicans” on their show.
“Art is for everyone, not just people who like and agree with Lynn,” Grenell said.
“Americans need to know that [Miranda]I can't stand people who don't politically agree with him,” he continued. “He and the seller are obvious [sic] Don't want Republicans to go to their shows. ”
“Americans will meet you, Lynn.”
Miranda did not immediately respond to requests to post comments.
The Tony Award winning musical, which chronicled the life of founder Father Alexander Hamilton, was scheduled for its third run at the Kennedy Center, kicked off in March 2026.
“[I]Miranda told the New York Times Wednesday.
“The Kennedy Center was not created in this spirit, and while it's the Trump Kennedy Center, we won't be part of it,” he added. “We're not going to be a part of it.”
The seller said in another statement posted on X that he cannot “attend with conscience, participate and become part of this new culture.”
“In recent weeks, we have sadly seen decades of neutrality destroy the Kennedy Center,” he writes. “A recent purge by the Trump administration of both professional staff and performing arts events first produced or originally created by the Kennedy Center in the face of everything that the Cultural Centers in the country represents.”
The producers specifically called for Trump's decision to fire Kennedy Center President Deborah Rutter, Chairman David Rubenstein, and other board members.
“We are not opposed to his administration, but rather against the Kennedy Center's partisan policies as a result of his recent acquisition,” the seller argued.
Trump appointed Kennedy Center board chair last month, claiming that his previous leadership did not share a “vision” for the arts.
According to the president, the new Kennedy Center Committee, which includes several Trump allies, will be holding a “golden age of art and culture” at a well-known venue.
“We're going to make the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC great again,” Trump wrote in the Truth Social Post last month, announcing the shooting.
