A world-renowned musician was hit with stern pushback from the Trump administration after he pulled out of an upcoming gig at the Kennedy Center.
Banjoist Béla Fleck said late Tuesday night, "I have withdrawn from my upcoming performance with the NSO at The Kennedy Center."
"Performing there has become charged and political, at an institution where the focus should be on the music," he then wrote next. "I look forward to playing with the NSO another time in the future when we can together share and celebrate art."
That led to a meltdown from Richard Grenell, Trump's pick to oversee the Kennedy Center. He was recently labeled the "nation's most detestable homosexual" for his behavior while working for Trump.
"You just made it political and caved to the woke mob who wants you to perform for only Lefties. This mob pressuring you will never be happy until you only play for Democrats," Grenell claimed. "The Trump Kennedy Center believes all people are welcome - Democrats and Republicans and people uninterested in politics. We want performers who aren’t political - who simply love entertaining everyone regardless of who they voted for."
Ex-GOP lawmaker Justin Amash weighed in on that comment, saying, "This administration engaged in the wholly performative political act of placing Trump’s name on the building, and now they’re lecturing performers about 'making it political.'"
Jim Acosta also had a reply, saying, "I tried to warn you Ric. It’s a debacle."
"Take Trump’s name off the Kennedy Center. It’s a national embarrassment," he added. "At this rate all you’re gonna be able to book is GOP luncheons. And the members of Congress prob don’t like it because it’s clear across town. Everybody hates this."
