Following the announced of the Washington National Opera’s (WNO) 2025-26 season, it was revealed that “Fellows Travelers” was canceled by its creators.

The New York Times reported that Gregory Spears and Greg Pierce decided to pull the work in a letter to WNO over concerns due to the Trump takeover at the Kennedy Center.

According to a letter by the creators President Donald J. Trump’s takeover ran counter to the values of “freedom and liberty for all people” that are highlighted in the opera.

The letter added, “We have made the impossibly difficult decision that the Kennedy Center is not a place the team feels comfortable having the work presented.”

Leaders of the Washington National Opera Tom O’Leary and Francesca Zambello responded noting, “We deeply regret that the creative team of ‘Fellow Travelers’ has decided to deprive W.N.O. audiences of the chance to experience this opera, Art and music have the power to rise above division and bring people together to find common ground. The W.N.O. has long been a place for everyone to enjoy the power of the opera and it will remain a place for patrons of all backgrounds and beliefs.”

When President Trump took over the Kennedy Center he targeted the LGBT community noting that there would be no more “drag” shows at the center. Additionally, the Gay Men’s Chorus and “Finn” were canceled. Interim President Richard Grenell has denied that any show was canceled by the new administration.

”Fellow Travelers,” which was recently adapted into a TV show, is set in Washington D.C., during the McCarthy era of the 1950s and focuses on the “lavender scare,” a witch hunt and mass firings of gay people from the United States government.