US EditionTrump Says Kennedy Center Will Close for Two Years for Renovations
President Trump plans a two-year closure of the Kennedy Center starting July 4 to complete renovations amid artist cancellations and declining ticket sales, officials said.
- On Sunday, President Donald Trump announced he will close the John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts for two years beginning July 4, 2026, saying financing is completed and fully in place.
- Framing the work as urgent, Trump argued a full shutdown would enable faster, higher-quality renovations, with the Kennedy Center board of trustees voting to include his name.
- Several leading artists canceled scheduled appearances, including composer Philip Glass, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Issa Rae, and the Kennedy Center's head of artistic programming abruptly left last week.
- Facing legal challenge and protests, Rep. Joyce Beatty sued in December, saying Trump acted with 'total disregard for Congress,' while Kennedy family members including Maria Shriver and Kerry Kennedy publicly condemned the renaming and closure.
- Because the Kennedy Center is congressionally funded, Congress should have been consulted before a two-year shutdown, and earlier this month, the Washington National Opera announced it will move performances away.
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Trump says he won't tear down Kennedy Center arts venue but it needs to be closed for repairs
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump said Monday that he's “not ripping down” the Kennedy Center but insisted the performing arts venue needs to shut down for about two years for construction and other work without patrons coming and going and getting in the way. The comments strongly suggested that he intends to gut the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts as part of the process. “I’m not ripping it down," the Republican president told…
US President Donald Trump has announced that the Kennedy Center will close its doors for two years on July 4th for a renovation. The extent of the renovation is not yet known (except that it will be "major"), and the decision must be approved by the board of trustees.
The whisper of America's recent history is blowing around the Kennedy Center in the US federal capital, Washington D.C. Or more correctly, the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. It's raining...
Trump announces controversial closure of Kennedy Center
The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, recently renamed the Trump Kennedy Center, will likely close its doors for two years starting this summer. President Trump made the announcement on social media Sunday, claiming it is necessary for renovations. Liz Landers speaks with former Republican congresswoman Barbara Comstock, who served on the Kennedy Center board, for more.
‘Crisis’: The fallout from Trump’s surprise plan to close Kennedy Center
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump’s surprise Sunday announcement that he planned to close the Kennedy Center for two years sent shock waves through the center, Washington and the broader arts world.
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