Washington National Opera Quits Kennedy Center, Blames Trump Era

The Washington National Opera (WNO) is leaving the John F. Kennedy Center. It plans to become a fully independent organization. The opera company announced the decision on Friday. It will end its partnership with the Kennedy Center early. In a statement, the WNO's artistic director cited two major reasons for the move. First, he mentioned a severe loss of confidence from donors. Second, he pointed to declining box office revenue. He also referred to what he called a Trump "takeover" of the Kennedy Center. This suggests the political climate during the Trump administration impacted the institution. This departure is one of the most significant since Trump gained control of the Kennedy Center. The WNO has already established a new, separate website for its future operations.