President Donald Trump announced plans to close the Kennedy Center for a two-year remodeling period, amid turmoil at the arts center.
In a post on Truth Social on Sunday, Trump wrote that he planned “to cease Entertainment Operations for an approximately two year period of time” for “construction, revitalization and complete rebuilding.” The closure is set to begin July 4, 2026, Trump wrote.
The decision is subject to board approval; however, Trump has appointed himself chair of the board and ousted most former members with his handpicked replacements. The board voted earlier this year to rename the institution the Trump Kennedy Center.
He wrote that the plan is to construct a “new and spectacular entertainment complex” and that financing for the project has already been completed.
However, the decision to end entertainment programming for the two-year period comes as many artists have withdrawn from performing at the arts center due to its takeover by Trump. Philip Glass has withdrawn the premiere of his symphony from the center, and Stephen Schwartz, Issa Rae, Renee Fleming, Hamilton and many more artists have canceled their engagements there. The Washington National Opera has also moved its shows out of the center.
Kevin Couch, who was announced as head of artistic programming at the Kennedy Center in mid January, resigned from his post Jan. 28.
While it’s unclear how much programming would have continued at the center, given the number of artist withdrawals, Trump claims the upcoming stoppage of entertainment programming is to allow faster remodeling.
“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,” Trump wrote. “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.”
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