Trump to Close Embattled Kennedy Center for 2-Year Renovation Project

Donald Trump on Sunday announced plans to close the Kennedy Center for a two-year remodeling project beginning July 4. The pause comes amid a time of tumult at the center, where several artists have canceled performances after Trump’s forceful takeover.

Trump recently appointed himself chair of the center’s board and replaced a majority of its members with loyalists, who voted to rename it the Trump Kennedy Center. That prompted a cascade of cancellations, including most recently composer Philip Glass, who withdrew his Symphony No. 15 “Lincoln” because he said the values of the center are in conflict with the message of the piece.

Other acts to drop out or change venues have included Issa Rae, “Hamilton” and the Washington National Opera. Artistic programming head Kevin Couch resigned last week after being appointed in mid-January.

Trump did not mention the cancellations in his lengthy post about the renovation plans, announced days after the premiere of “Melania,” a documentary about the first lady, took place at the arts center.

The entire announcement, posted on Truth Social, reads as follows:

After a one year review of The Trump Kennedy Center, that has taken place with Contractors, Musical Experts, Art Institutions, and other Advisors and Consultants, deciding between either Construction with Closure and Re-Opening or, Partial Construction while continuing Entertainment Operations through a much longer period of time, working in and around the Performances, I have determined that The Trump Kennedy Center, if temporarily closed for Construction, Revitalization, and Complete Rebuilding, can be, without question, the finest Performing Arts Facility of its kind, anywhere in the World. In other words, if we don’t close, the quality of Construction will not be nearly as good, and the time to completion, because of interruptions with Audiences from the many Events using the Facility, will be much longer. The temporary closure will produce a much faster and higher quality result!

Based on these findings, and totally subject to Board approval, I have determined that the fastest way to bring The Trump Kennedy Center to the highest level of Success, Beauty, and Grandeur, is to cease Entertainment Operations for an approximately two year period of time, with a scheduled Grand Reopening that will rival and surpass anything that has taken place with respect to such a Facility before.

Therefore, The Trump Kennedy Center will close on July 4th, 2026, in honor of the 250th Anniversary of our Country, whereupon we will simultaneously begin Construction of the new and spectacular Entertainment Complex. Financing is completed, and fully in place! This important decision, based on input from many Highly Respected Experts, will take a tired, broken, and dilapidated Center, one that has been in bad condition, both financially and structurally for many years, and turn it into a World Class Bastion of Arts, Music, and Entertainment, far better than it has ever been before. America will be very proud of its new and beautiful Landmark for many generations to come. Thank you for your attention to this matter!

PRESIDENT DONALD J. TRUMP

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