Trump Attending Opening Night of 'Chicago' at Kennedy Center

It could be one of his last visits before the venue closes for a two-year renovation.

Mar. 31, 2026 at 11:34pm

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President Donald Trump is set to attend the opening night performance of the musical 'Chicago' at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. on Tuesday. This will be one of Trump's final visits to the performing arts institution before it closes for a two-year renovation in July.

Why it matters

Trump has wielded significant influence over the Kennedy Center since returning to office in 2025, ousting previous leadership and replacing it with a handpicked board of trustees that named him chairman. The planned closure of the Kennedy Center has prompted legal proceedings and upset many leading performers, musicians, and groups.

The details

Set in the 1920s, 'Chicago' is a scathing satire of how show business and the media make celebrities out of criminals. The musical will run at the Kennedy Center Opera House through April 5. Trump is attending the opening night performance alongside his wife, First Lady Melania Trump. This will be their first time together at the Kennedy Center since the premiere of the documentary 'Melania' in January. Trump previously attended the opening night production of 'Les Misérables' last summer, where he was both booed and cheered.

  • The Kennedy Center will close for a two-year renovation starting in July 2026.
  • Trump is attending the opening night performance of 'Chicago' on Tuesday, March 31, 2026.
  • The Kennedy Center will award the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor to comedian Bill Maher on June 28, 2026, which Trump could also attend.

The players

Donald Trump

The current President of the United States, who has wielded significant influence over the Kennedy Center since returning to office in 2025.

Melania Trump

The First Lady of the United States, who is attending the opening night performance of 'Chicago' with her husband.

Karoline Leavitt

The White House press secretary, who stated that Trump's absence from the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) was due to scheduling conflicts and his focus on major matters like the war in Iran.

Bill Maher

The comedian who will receive the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor at the Kennedy Center on June 28, 2026.

Kennedy Center

The performing arts institution in Washington, D.C. that will close for a two-year renovation starting in July 2026, following a wave of cancellations by leading performers, musicians, and groups upset that Trump had taken over the storied institution.

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What they’re saying

“It was just simply for scheduling purposes this year, with it being in Texas, it was best for the president's schedule and what he has on his plate right now not to go.”

— Karoline Leavitt, White House Press Secretary

What’s next

The Kennedy Center will award the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor to comedian Bill Maher on June 28, 2026, which Trump could also attend.

The takeaway

Trump's attendance at the opening night of 'Chicago' at the Kennedy Center highlights his continued influence over the storied institution, even as it faces a two-year closure and legal challenges from performers and groups upset by his leadership. The president's schedule and priorities, including the war in Iran, have also kept him from attending other high-profile events like the Conservative Political Action Conference.