The Washington National Opera is the latest to sever its relationship with the rebadged Donald J. Trump and John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C.

The Center had been its home since 1971.

A company spokesperson said the decision was not a political one, but was forced by the Trump–Kennedy Center’s new business model, which requires productions to be fully funded in advance.

“Opera companies typically cover only 30-60 per cent of costs through ticket sales, with the remainder coming from grants and donations that cannot be secured years ahead, when productions must be planned,” the spokesperson said.

Posting on X, the Trump-Kennedy Center’s Director, Richard Grenell, wrote that the Center “made the decision to end the EXCLUSIVE partnership with the Washington Opera so that we can have the flexibility and funds to bring in operas from around the world and across the US.”

“Having an EXCLUSIVE relationship has been extremely expensive and limiting in choice and variety. We approached the Opera leadership last year with this idea, and they began to be open to it. We have spent millions of dollars to support the Washington Opera’s...