Liberals tend to view President Donald Trump as this almost mythical figure. With just a flick of his finger, he seems to unleash chaos in Texas and disrupts our cherished democratic norms. The latest critique directed at Trump from the left might be one of the more inventive ones we’ve seen.
The Associated Press noted a slight decline in attendance during the Metropolitan Opera season, which coincided with the Trump administration’s restrictions on immigration and a subsequent drop in tourist numbers in New York. It’s quite telling.
Out of all the sectors that might feel the impact of deporting undocumented immigrants, the performing arts probably aren’t the most obvious. (Related: The American immigration crisis was summarized in one preventable tragedy)
“We were on a positive trajectory,” remarked general manager Peter Gelb, according to the Associated Press. “We’re quite let down by our ticket sales over the last couple of months. We had expected better. The downturn in tourism has really affected us.” The report doesn’t contradict Gelb’s assessment—international ticket sales barely hit 11%, falling short of the Met’s target of 16%.
He is attending NYC’s Metropolitan Opera (one of the country’s top arts institutions), and the CEO has denounced Trump’s “immigrant crackdown.”
This is how you can earn $1,395,216 as an arts manager. pic.twitter.com/ijo8qwbair
– Slimzim (@jameszimmermann) June 16, 2025
Maybe it’s ironic, but perhaps illegal immigrants were among those hoping to contribute to the opera scene. If there’s a stereotype linking border-crossers, it’s probably an affinity for Wagner’s works.
Gelb seized the opportunity, post-opera season, to voice his critiques about the Trump administration.
While in Kiev, he addressed the audience about the American government, stating, “It no longer embodies some core democratic principles.” According to the New York Post.
The Post claims the ticket sales slump is more about Gelb’s management than about Trump. For example, there was a production centered around “an F-16 pilot who, after an unexpected pregnancy, remained on the ground to operate drones,” as summarized by the New York Post.
Gelb asserted, “We can demonstrate that these operas resonate with the audience.” In November 2024, he wrote it in the New York Times.
Interestingly, this season’s crowd favorites have been the classics, like Verdi’s “Aida” and Mozart’s “The Magic Flute,” according to the Associated Press.
Very hilarious – Met Opera’s slump has denounced classics with awakened nonsense and ended up tortillating rather than cancelling the star for political reasons (I’m sure). If you want to hit your head against the wall, read this. https://t.co/9onwpulkp
– inez stepman July 3, 2025
A quick scroll through Reddit’s R/Opera subreddit reveals a lot of flashy theatre discussions, which might skew liberal because of the site’s user base. Yet, they were certainly discussing the opera demographic.
“Every day, I see folks voicing concerns over Gelb’s management choices—not without reason.” I wrote that two years ago, before the Trump era re-emerged.
Posted six years back, Gelb’s potential resignation drew positive reactions in the comments.
It’s possible that Trump might also be a target of Reddit’s collective frustration. It’s believable that he might, in subtle ways, affect how millions of Reddit users perceive the situation. (Related: DEM slips into Trump’s crazy blender. It costs more than they realize)
Or perhaps people are just willing to spend money on a unique opera experience, even if it features a high-pitched, pregnant drone pilot.
Follow Natalie Sandoval on X: @natalierene03
