Another celebrated musician has decided that ideological purity matters more than music.
Grammy-winning banjo virtuoso Béla Fleck announced this week that he has withdrawn from his upcoming performance with the National Symphony Orchestra at the Kennedy Center, claiming the venue has become “charged and political” following Donald Trump’s return to the White House.
In reality, Fleck did exactly what he claimed to oppose — he made the moment political by walking away.
Kennedy Center interim president Richard Grenell didn’t mince words, calling out Fleck for caving to a woke pressure campaign that demands artists perform only for approved audiences. Grenell made clear the Trump-led Kennedy Center welcomes everyone, regardless of party affiliation or whether they care about politics at all.
The irony is hard to miss. Fleck insists the focus should be on the music, yet he chose to cancel a performance because he didn’t like who was in charge. That decision sends a loud message that half the country is unworthy of sharing in the arts.
This isn’t an isolated incident. Since Trump began his second term and overhauled the Kennedy Center’s board, a growing list of entertainers have pulled out, including Wicked composer Stephen Schwartz, along with figures like Issa Rae and Lin-Manuel Miranda. Each claims to oppose politicization — while actively politicizing their own participation.
The woke mob’s end goal isn’t neutrality. It’s ideological segregation. And every artist who caves only proves Grenell right: it will never be enough until culture belongs exclusively to the Left.
"Bela Fleck" by Regina Folk Festival is licensed under CC BY-NC 2.0.
