Last month, the Washington National Opera announced that it will move performances away from the Kennedy Center in another high-profile departure following Donald Trump’s takeover of the U.S. capital’s leading performing arts venue. File
| Photo Credit: AFP
President Donald Trump said Sunday he will move to close Washington’s Kennedy Center performing arts centre for two years starting in July for construction, his latest move to upturn the storied venue since returning to the White House.
Mr. Trump’s announcement on social media follows a wave of cancellations by leading performers and groups since the President ousted the previous leadership and added his name to the building. Mr. Trump made no mention in his post of the recent cancellations.
His proposal, announced days after the premiere of “Melania”, a documentary of the first lady, was shown at the centre, he said, was subject to approval by the board of the Kennedy Center, which has been stocked with his hand-picked allies. Mr. Trump himself chairs the centre’s board of trustees.
“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,” Mr. Trump wrote in his post.
Neither Mr. Trump nor Kennedy Center President Ric Grenell, a Mr. Trump ally, has provided evidence to back up their claims about the building being in disrepair.
The sudden decision is certain to spark blowback as Mr. Trump upturns the popular venue, which began as a national cultural centre, but Congress renamed as a “living memorial” to President John F. Kennedy in 1964, in the aftermath of the slain President’s death. Opened in 1971, it is open year-round as a public showcase for the arts, including the National Symphony Orchestra.
Since Mr. Trump returned to the White House, the Kennedy Center is one of many Washington landmarks that he has sought to put his stamp on in his second term. He demolished the East Wing of the White House and launched a massive $400 million ballroom project, is actively pursuing building a triumphal arch on the other side of the Arlington Bridge from the Lincoln Memorial and has plans for Washington Dulles International Airport.
Leading performing arts groups have pulled out of appearances, most recently, composer Philip Glass, who announced his decision to withdraw his Symphony No. 15 “Lincoln” because he said the values of the centre today are in “direct conflict” with the message of the piece.
Last month, the Washington National Opera announced that it will move performances away from the Kennedy Center in another high-profile departure following Mr. Trump’s takeover of the U.S. capital’s leading performing arts venue.
The head of artistic programming for the centre abruptly left his post last week, less than two weeks after being named to the job.
A spokesperson for the Kennedy Center did not immediately respond to an emailed request for comment.
As Mr. Trump announced his plan to rename the building — erecting his name on the building’s main front — he drew sharp opposition from members of Congress, and some Kennedy family members.
Kerry Kennedy, a niece of John F. Kennedy, said in a social post on X at the time that she would remove Mr. Trump’s name herself with a pickaxe when his term ends.
Published – February 02, 2026 05:56 pm IST
