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Reuters

US President Donald Trump said ‍on Sunday he planned to close the John F. Kennedy Memorial Centre for the Performing Arts for two years for reconstruction starting in July.
The national arts and entertainment centre in Washington has been marked by turmoil in recent months following Trump’s appointment of himself as chairman, his push to change the organisation’s focus, plans for reconstruction, ⁠and the board’s addition of his name to the institution.
Under Trump’s plan, the centre would close on July 4, the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.
“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,” Trump wrote on the social media platform Truth Social.

Trump’s announcement came days after the premiere of Melania, a documentary of the US first lady was shown at the centre.
Trump wrote the closure was subject to approval by the board. He added, without citing details, that financing for the building project was complete.
The Kennedy Centre rebuilding plans follow a ‌series of measures by Trump to reshape US historical and cultural institutions, and another construction project on the president’s initiative: the bulldozing of the East Wing ‍of the White House in order to build a large ballroom.
He has said private fundraising would pay for the US$300 million East Wing ballroom, with many of the donations coming from wealthy individuals and large companies.
The Washington Post reported on Saturday he wanted to build a 76-metre (250-foot) tall monument called the Independence Arch.
Trump named himself chairman of the Kennedy Centre and filled ‌its board ⁠with his allies last year. The board in December voted to rename the institution as the Donald J. Trump and the John F. Kennedy Memorial Centre for the Performing Arts, or Trump Kennedy Centre.

Many groups and artists subsequently withdrew from scheduled performances, citing ⁠the Republican leader’s takeover.
American composer Philip Glass pulled the world premiere of his symphony Lincoln, and the Washington National Opera said earlier this month it planned to leave its home ‌of 50 years. Producers of the hugely popular musical Hamilton cancelled a planned 2026 engagement, and the Martha Graham Dance Company has cancelled its next scheduled appearance at the Kennedy Centre.
Democrats, noting the centre’s name was established by Congress, have said Trump’s rebranding has no ‌force of law. John F. Kennedy’s family ‌denounced the renaming move as undermining the slain president’s ‍legacy.
The Kennedy Centre historically has hosted over 2,000 events per year, including the Kennedy Centre Honours, usually held every December.
According to a detailed review last October by The Washington Post, Kennedy Centre ticket sales have plummeted to their lowest levels since the pandemic, equating to tens of thousands of unsold seats last year.
In December, Trump hosted the annual Kennedy Centre awards, and television viewership for the gala plummeted to a record low, 25 per cent down from 2024, according to Nielsen data.
Author and activist Maria Shriver, a member of the Kennedy family, offered a pointed post on X, saying the facility was suffering because “no one wants to perform there any longer” and that “everybody’s canceling”.
The centre’s schedule currently lists some shows for July, August and September, including performances of the musicals Moulin Rouge, Mrs Doubtfire and The Outsiders.
Additional reporting by Agence France-Presse and Associated Press


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Donald Trump

Trump plans to shut down Kennedy Centre for 2 years for renovations

A portrait of US President Donald Trump during preparations at the John F. Kennedy Centre for the Performing Arts before the premiere of ‘Melania’. Photo: Andrew Leyden/ZUMA Press Wire/dpa

US President Donald Trump at the premiere of the documentary film Melania on Thursday. Photo: Reuters

The Kennedy Centre in Washington. Photo: AP

Donald Trump’s name was recently added to the building’s facade. Photo: Reuters

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World

United States & Canada

Planned closure marks the latest development since Trump took control of the centre, after multiple artists cancelled performances there


Planned closure marks the latest development since Trump took control of the centre, after multiple artists cancelled performances there.


US Politics

United States

Robert F. Kennedy

Trump plans to shut down Kennedy Centre for 2 years for renovations

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Planned closure marks the latest development since Trump took control of the centre, after multiple artists cancelled performances there

Planned closure marks the latest development since Trump took control of the centre, after multiple artists cancelled performances there