JD Vance has been booed by audience members at the Kennedy Center following Donald Trump’s decision to oust the prestigious venue’s leadership.

Jeers rang out as the US vice-president sat down with his wife, Usha, ahead of a concert by the National Symphony Orchestra at the site in Washington on Thursday evening.

It comes after Mr Trump sacked the chairman of the Kennedy Center board and its 13 trustees last month – making himself chairman and Richard Grenell its interim leader.

Mrs Vance was also made a board member, having previously served on the board of the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra between 2020 and 2022.

Mr Grenell criticised the audience for booing, accusing them of being “intolerant”.

Following the shake-up in February, Mr Trump said: “So we took over the Kennedy Center.

“We didn’t like what they were showing and various other things. We’re going to make sure that it’s good and it’s not going to be woke. There’s no more woke in this country.”

Such public outbursts are highly unusual at classic music concerts, where audiences are expected to be quiet and cordial.