Donald Trump has announced that the Kennedy Center will undergo a two-year closure for extensive renovations after several artists withdrew from scheduled performances at the venue.
In a statement shared on Truth Social Sunday night, the former president, who recently added his name to the venue’s title, now calling it ‘The Trump Kennedy Center,’ declared the impending closure.
“After careful consideration, I have decided that closing The Trump Kennedy Center for a period of construction, revitalization, and complete rebuilding will transform it into the premier performing arts facility globally,” Trump stated.
Trump’s decision followed a comprehensive year-long review conducted with input from contractors, musical experts, art institutions, and other advisors to assess the necessity of a temporary closure for the renovation process.
“Simply put, if we do not close, the construction quality will suffer, and the overall completion time will be significantly extended due to interruptions from ongoing events. A temporary closure ensures a faster and superior outcome,” Trump explained.
The Kennedy Center is slated to close on July 4, 2026, aligning with the 250th anniversary of America’s founding.
He added that financing is ‘completed and fully in place’ for the renovations and the two-year closing is the ‘fastest way’ to bring the center ‘to the highest level of success, beauty and grandeur.’
‘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,’ he said.
Donald Trump said the Kennedy Center will close for two years for ‘complete rebuilding’ following a wave of artists canceling performances at the venue
The president, who partially renamed the building ‘The Trump Kennedy Center’ last month, made the announcement on Truth Social Sunday night
‘America will be very proud of its new and beautiful Landmark for many generations to come.’
The Daily Mail has reached out to a spokesperson for The Trump Kennedy Center and Executive Director Richard Grenell for comment.
Most recently, the venue hosted the MAGA star-studded premiere of the hit documentary ‘Melania.’
However, its been a tumultuous year at the Kennedy Center, following Trump’s move early in his second term to oust the center’s previous leadership, install political allies, and name himself chairman of the board.
Trump appointed Grenell as executive director and reshaped the board with supporters, signaling an unmistakable shift in direction.
That shift became impossible to ignore last month when the board approved a rebranding that added Trump’s name to the building – a move that triggered a new wave of artist cancellations and donor backlash.
Artists ranging from Hamilton creator Lin-Manuel Miranda to rock star Peter Wolf have called off events at the Kennedy Center since the leadership overhaul. Others followed after the renaming, turning the Kennedy Center into a flashpoint in the culture wars.
Most recently, award-winning composer Philip Glass called off the forthcoming debut of his Symphony No. 15, ‘Lincoln,’ themed after the nation’s 16th president.
‘Symphony No. 15 is a portrait of Abraham Lincoln, and the values of the Kennedy Center today are in direct conflict with the message of the Symphony,’ Glass wrote in a statement on X on Tuesday.
‘Therefore, I feel an obligation to withdraw this Symphony premiere from the Kennedy Center under its current leadership.’
A handful of creatives have cancelled performances at the arts venue, a list that has continued to grow steadily since the Center’s board voted to add Trump’s name to the building in December.
The Kennedy Center’s name change was poorly received by many members of the Kennedy Family, including former President John F. Kennedy’s niece Kerry Kennedy, who pledged to take a ‘pickax’ to the letters forming Trump’s name on the building after he leaves office.
This is a developing story.
