Philip Glass withdraws world premiere of his Lincoln symphony from Kennedy Center | Philip Glass

Famous American composer Philip Glass withdrew the world premiere of his latest symphony from the John F Kennedy Center in Washington DC in protest of Donald Trump’s presidency.

The 88-year-old composer said on Tuesday: in question: “After careful consideration, I have decided to withdraw my Symphony No. 15, ‘Lincoln,’ from the John F Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. Symphony No. 15 is a portrait of Abraham Lincoln, and the Kennedy Center’s current values ​​are in direct conflict with the symphony’s message.”

“Therefore, I feel compelled to withdraw this symphony premiere from the Kennedy Center under its current leadership.”

The world premiere of Glass was planned to be held at the venue on June 12 and 13.

The decision by Glass, who was awarded a Kennedy Center Honor in 2018, comes at a time of broader turmoil at the Kennedy Center following the leadership overhaul that Trump initiated after his second presidency began in early 2025. He installed a new board of trustees for the center and made controversial changes to the institution’s name and mission.

In December, the president renamed the world-famous venue the “Trump-Kennedy Center.” He made this change after numerous cancellations by musical artists who voiced their opposition to the administration’s policies.

Critics argue that the Trump administration’s attack on what it sees as “woke” or far-left culture is politicizing art and alienating artists. Rhode Island US senator Sheldon Whitehouse, an official member of the Kennedy Center board, told the Guardian: “When the bandits took over the ship, their first instinct was to plunder it for their own benefit and recruit their friends.”

The Guardian has reached out to the Kennedy Center for comment.

The Trump administration spent much of January grappling with public backlash over federal agents fatally shooting U.S. citizens Renee Nicole Good and Alex Pretti in Minneapolis during the White House’s brutal mass deportation campaign.