Trump announces closure of Kennedy Center for two years for ‘complete rebuilding’
The news comes after a string of high-profile cancellations, most recently from composer Philip Glass.
Government and Cultural Heritage
Donald Trump has announced a two-year closure of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts for a “complete rebuilding” of the venue after a slew of cancellations stemming from the president’s controversial overhaul of the institution’s leadership and cultural direction.
Trump said in a post to his Truth Social platform that the “tired, broken and dilapidated” facility would close on July 4 for the construction of a “new and spectacular entertainment complex,” which he said had already secured funding.
The decision was made after a one-year review which he said had included discussions with contractors, musical experts, art institutions and other advisors and consultants.
“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 said, referring to the Kennedy Center by its rebranded and contested name.
“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. The temporary closure will produce a much faster and higher quality result!”
Trump said that his determination is “totally subject to board approval,” but he has already taken steps to stack the board with allies, effectively blurring the line between oversight and rubber-stamp approval.
The president said that, when construction is complete, the Kennedy Center would have a “grand reopening” that he said would “rival and surpass anything that has taken place.”
“America will be very proud of its new and beautiful landmark for many generations to come,” Trump said. “Thank you for your attention to this matter!”
Kennedy Center now ‘a swamp for cronyism’: Senate Democrats
In a response, Grenell called the letter “filled with partisan attacks and false accusations.”
Adam Schrader
The news comes after a string of high-profile cancellations, most recently from composer Philip Glass. The National Symphony Orchestra, housed at the Kennedy Center, had commissioned Glass to write a symphony honoring Abraham Lincoln for the 50th anniversary of the facility in 2022 but the composer missed the deadline. It was slated to debut in June 2026 instead.
“After thoughtful consideration, I have decided to withdraw my Symphony No. 15 "Lincoln" from the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts,” Glass said in a post to Instagram last week.
“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. Therefore, I feel an obligation to withdraw this Symphony premiere from the Kennedy Center under its current leadership.”
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