KEY POINTS
- The Kennedy Center will close July 4 for renovations, subject to board approval.
- Leading artists, including composer Philip Glass, have withdrawn from scheduled performances.
- Trump chairs the center’s board, which he recently replaced with handpicked members.
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump said Sunday that the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts will close for two years starting in July to undergo extensive renovations.
Trump made the announcement on Truth Social, citing input from advisors and experts, amid a wave of recent cancellations from leading performers.
The president described the Kennedy Center as “tired, broken, and dilapidated” and said the closure will allow for faster, higher quality renovations, creating a “world class bastion of arts, music, and entertainment.”
He stated that financing for the renovations is complete, but did not disclose the source of funds.
The Kennedy Center has been a central institution in US performing arts since 1971. Following Trump’s return to office last year, he appointed a new board of trustees and added his name to the venue.
Several high profile performers have since canceled appearances, citing concerns over the center’s direction under Trump’s leadership. Washington National Opera also announced it will move performances away from the center.
Mary Schmidt Campbell, president of the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, said, “Closing the center for renovations may improve infrastructure, but the artistic community is concerned about governance and programming priorities.”
Cultural policy analyst Dr. Peter Kotz, of the Brookings Institution, noted that “the president’s dual role as board chair and public advocate for renovations raises questions about transparency and decision making processes.”
Philip Glass said, “The values of the center today are in direct conflict with my work.” Kennedy Center spokesperson Emily Raines declined to comment on the announcement or funding sources.
The center’s board must approve the closure and renovation plan. The process could affect the scheduling of long term programs, fundraising initiatives, and artist engagement. Trump emphasized a “grand reopening” following completion.
The Kennedy Center closure marks a rare full scale renovation of a national cultural institution, highlighting tensions between infrastructure upgrades and artistic governance under political leadership.
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