The President of the United States, Donald Trump, has revealed plans to Temporarily close the John F. Kennedy Memorial Centre for the Performing Arts for two years, with renovations set to begin in 2026 July. Trump’s declaration on Sunday is a response to a series of cancellations from top performers, musicians, and groups after he dismissed the previous administration and affixed his name to the venue.
Trump’s post did not include any mention of the recent cancellations. “I have resolved that the fastest approach to elevate The Trump Kennedy Centre to the highest standards of Success, Beauty, and Grandeur, is to suspend Entertainment Operations for an approximate period of two years,” he remarked in a post on his Truth Social platform.
“The temporary closure will facilitate a much quicker and superior result!” The closure is planned to start on July 4, in conjunction with the 250th Independence Day celebration. Trump indicated that this decision will be subject to the board’s approval, which he personally selected upon taking the chairmanship.
Kennedy Center To Be Closed For Two Years
On Sunday, President Donald Trump announced his intention to close Washington’s Kennedy Centre for the performing arts for a duration of two years, commencing in July, for construction purposes. This decision marks his latest effort to transform the historic venue since his return to the White House.
The president’s declaration on social media comes in the wake of numerous cancellations by prominent performers and organisations, following his removal of the previous leadership and the addition of his name to the building. Notably, Trump did not address the recent cancellations in his post.
His proposal, revealed shortly after the premiere of “Melania,” a documentary featuring the first lady, is contingent upon approval from the Kennedy Centre’s board, which has been populated with his chosen associates. Trump himself serves as the chair of the centre’s board of trustees.
What is the Kennedy Centre?
The Kennedy Centre, officially referred to as The Kennedy Centre for the Performing Arts, is an important cultural venue located in Washington, D.C., where a variety of theatre, dance, and musical performances take place. It serves as the home for the National Symphony Orchestra and the Washington National Opera.
In December 2025, the centre’s board declared that it had renamed the complex to The Donald J. Trump and The John F. Kennedy Memorial Centre for the Performing Arts. Nevertheless, some members of Congress argue that altering the name of the centre necessitates congressional approval.
Why did Donald Trump take control of the Kennedy Centre?
In 2025, as he began his second term, U.S. President Donald Trump started to take over the Kennedy Centre, which he accused of promoting “woke” programming and mismanagement. He aimed to “eradicate anti-American propaganda” and revive the “Vision for a Golden Age in Arts and Culture.” To facilitate this, Trump altered the Kennedy Centre’s board by removing members appointed by his predecessor, Joe Biden, and replacing them with his own nominees.
Trump quickly announced that the new board had voted to make him its chair, displacing the current chair, David Rubenstein. This decision was viewed as quite unusual, considering that no U.S. president had ever been a member of the board, let alone held the position of chair. That same year, the Kennedy Centre’s president, Deborah Rutter, resigned and was replaced by Richard Grenell, a long-time Trump advisor on foreign policy.
Who controls the Kennedy Centre?
The Kennedy Centre is managed by a board of trustees, which has historically been bipartisan. However, in early 2025, President Donald Trump appointed his own members to the board. In February 2025, it was revealed that the board had chosen Trump as chairman. This decision was regarded as quite extraordinary, given that no U.S. president had previously been a member of the board, much less served as chair.
