The Washington National Opera (WNO) announced it will leave the Kennedy Center after over 50 years, citing changes under President Donald Trump's leadership and a new business model. WNO stated the center's requirement for productions to be fully funded in advance is incompatible with opera operations, and that centralized support services have been reduced. The opera plans to operate as an independent nonprofit at new Washington venues, while negotiating its affiliation agreement and endowment with the Kennedy Center. Several artists and groups have previously withdrawn from the Kennedy Center in protest of Trump's takeover.