President Donald Trump announced Sunday that the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts will close in July for roughly two years to allow for major renovations. The move comes as the nation’s premier arts institution faces a growing wave of cancellations from performers and leadership resignations.
Trump, whose handpicked board of trustees added his name to the center in December, said the closure “will produce a much faster and higher quality result” as he seeks to rebuild the complex. The plan is pending approval by the board, which elected him chair last year.
“This important decision, based on input from many Highly Respected Experts, will take a tired, broken, and dilapidated Center… and turn it into a World Class Bastion of Arts, Music, and Entertainment, far better than it has ever been before,” Trump said on social media, adding that financing is “fully in place.”
The announcement sparked criticism from members of the Kennedy family. Joe Kennedy III, grandson of Robert F. Kennedy, posted, “President Kennedy would remind us that it is not buildings that define the greatness of a nation. It is the actions of its people and its leaders.” Maria Shriver, niece of John F. Kennedy, offered a satirical take on the closure, suggesting it was driven by artists withdrawing their performances after the center was rebranded.
Several high-profile artists have canceled shows or stepped down from leadership roles following Trump’s rebranding, including Issa Rae, Renée Fleming, Shonda Rhimes, Ben Folds, Philip Glass, and producers like Jeffrey Seller. The Washington National Opera also cut ties with the center.
A source familiar with the situation said the growing artist boycott made the two-year closure necessary. Kevin Couch, briefly appointed vice president of programming, left the center days after his appointment, frustrated by difficulties in booking performers.
Trump has described the center as being in “tremendous disrepair” and pledged a $257 million project to repair and restore its facilities, including exterior marble, interior chairs, and stages. He did not provide detailed information on the project’s financing or overall cost.
Despite renovations, the Kennedy Center has already hosted events aligned with Trump’s artistic preferences, such as the Kennedy Center Honors in December, awarding figures like Sylvester Stallone, KISS, and Gloria Gaynor, and the premiere of First Lady Melania Trump’s documentary.
Trump’s influence on the Kennedy Center reflects a broader effort to reshape Washington’s landmarks and institutions. In addition to the center, he has modified the White House Rose Garden, demolished parts of the East Wing, and proposed a monumental arch for the nation’s 250th anniversary.
The Kennedy Center, opened in 1971 as a memorial to President John F. Kennedy, hosts over 2,000 performances each year. The upcoming closure is expected to reshape the venue’s operations and artistic direction for the next two years.
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