Liberals often view President Donald Trump as a sort of mythical figure. With a mere flick of his finger, he appears to unleash chaos, whether that’s a deluge in Texas or a disruption of democratic norms. The latest wave of criticism directed at Trump has taken on a surprisingly creative angle.
According to a report from the Associated Press, attendance at the Metropolitan Opera has dipped slightly this season, coinciding with the Trump administration’s tougher immigration policies, which many believe have decreased tourism in New York. It’s their observation.
Among the various sectors affected by the deportation of undocumented immigrants, the performing arts seems one of the least likely. (Related: The American immigration crisis was encapsulated in one preventable tragedy)
“We were going in a positive direction,” said general manager Peter Gelb, as noted by the Associated Press. “We were really let down by sales over the last couple of months of the season. Our projections were much higher, but the reality was that tourism had taken a significant hit.” The report aligns with Gelb’s assessment. International ticket sales accounted for only 11% of opera sales, falling short of the Met’s 16% forecast.
He is attending NYC’s Metropolitan Opera (one of the country’s top arts institutions), and the CEO has denounced Trump’s “immigrant crackdown.”
This is how you can earn $1,395,216 as an arts manager. pic.twitter.com/ijo8qwbair
– Slimzim (@jameszimmermann) June 16, 2025
Maybe it’s the illegal immigrants themselves who yearn to enrich the opera scene. If there’s a negative stereotype about border-crossing individuals, it’s often a deep appreciation for Wagner’s compositions.
Gelb found himself lamenting the impact of the Trump administration as the opera season came to a close.
While in Kiev for some reason, he addressed the American government, stating, “It no longer embodies some of the most essential tenets of democracy.” As reported by the New York Post.
The Post suggests that the decline in ticket sales is more attributable to Gelb’s own management than to Trump’s actions.
For instance, “Opera is the focus of ‘Opera,'” refers to an F-16 pilot sidelined after an unexpected pregnancy. When she eventually returns to her role, she’s still grounded, controlling drone missions instead of flying, as summarized by the New York Post.
“We can demonstrate that these operas resonate with our audience,” Gelb remarked in a piece for the New York Times back in November 2024.
However, it appears that this season’s hits have been the classics, like Verdi’s “Aida” and Mozart’s “The Magic Flute,” according to the Associated Press.
Very amusing – Met Opera’s downturn has rejected classics for avant-garde concepts and ends up focusing on unusual themes rather than canceling performances for political reasons (I’m sure). If you’re looking for frustration, dive into this. https://t.co/9onwpulkp
– Inez Stepman July 3, 2025
A quick look at Reddit’s R/Opera subreddit reveals a lot of discussions around flashy productions, arguably leaning liberal, considering the site’s demographics. This reflects the theater-going crowd.
“Every day I observe people here discussing Gelb’s decisions as manager – and not without reason,” I mentioned two years ago, long before Trump 2.0. Even six years ago, many were supportive of Gelb stepping down. There was quite a lot of approval in the comments.
Perhaps Trump is also at the center of Redditors’ collective disdain. It’s entirely possible the president has ingrained himself in the minds of countless individuals and sparked subtle doubts that could evolve over time. (Related: Democrats slip into Trump’s chaotic reality; it’s costlier than they realize)
Or maybe people are simply willing to pay for surreal experiences involving a high-pitched, pregnant drone pilot.
