Trump Announces 2-Year Closure of Kennedy Center for Renovation...

President Donald Trump announced Sunday on Truth Social that the Trump Kennedy Center will close on July 4, 2026, for approximately two years of construction and renovation. Trump said the closure will transform the facility into what he described as “the finest Performing Arts Facility of its kind, anywhere in the World.“ The announcement follows the president's controversial 2025 decision to rename the historic institution, originally built as a memorial to former President John F. Kennedy. Newsweek reached out the White House and Kennedy Center via email on Sunday for comment. Why It Matters The facility serves as the nation's cultural center and a living memorial to Kennedy, hosting thousands of performances annually and attracting millions of visitors. A two-year closure would significantly impact Washington's cultural landscape, affecting artists, employees, and audiences who depend on the venue. The center was built and named to commemorate Kennedy after his assassination in 1963, and Trump's controversial renaming and planned renovation will cement his legacy on the American capital while proving contentious among those who want to preserve Kennedy's legacy. Prize-winning composer Philip Glass recently withdrew the world premiere of a new symphony from the Trump Kennedy Center, becoming the latest prominent artist to cancel a scheduled appearance at the Washington venue amid controversy surrounding its leadership under Trump. What To Know In a Truth Social post, Trump said the closure will allow for “complete rebuilding“ to transform the facility into what he described as “the finest Performing Arts Facility of its kind, anywhere in the World.“ The decision follows a one-year review involving contractors, musical experts, art institutions, and consultants who evaluated whether to pursue construction while maintaining operations or temporarily shutting down. Trump indicated the decision is “totally subject to Board approval“ and that financing is “completed, and fully in place.“ Trump's announcement characterizes the current Kennedy Center as “tired, broken, and dilapidated“ with conditions that have been “both financially and structurally“ poor “for many years.“ The president stated that partial construction while maintaining entertainment operations would result in lower quality work and longer completion times due to interruptions from ongoing performances. The planned closure would allow for uninterrupted construction, producing “a much faster and higher quality result,“ according to Trump. The renovation aims to create what the president called a “World Class Bastion of Arts, Music, and Entertainment“ that will be “far better than it has ever been before.“ A “spectacular Entertainment Complex“ is planned, with a grand reopening scheduled for approximately mid-2028. The president fired all the center's board members shortly after taking office and replaced them with allies who voted for him to be chairman of the board. The president then secured some $257 million in funding to renovate the venue. Fox News host Laura Ingraham, Attorney General Pam Bondi, and second lady Usha Vance were on the board and voted for the renaming. Ohio Representative Joyce Beatty, who also sits on the board, said she was muted on the call and not allowed to speak. What People Are Saying President Donald Trump: “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.“ White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said in December: “Not only from the standpoint of its reconstruction, but also financially, and its reputation. Congratulations to President Donald J. Trump, and likewise, congratulations to President Kennedy, because this will be a truly great team long into the future!“ Tennessee Democratic Representative Steve Cohen: “Renaming the Kennedy Center for Trump would be a sacrilege. JFK was a martyred, historic US president whose name is synonymous with artistic excellence in America. The idea that Trump would put his name BEFORE Kennedy's—or even alongside it—is obscene.“ Joe Kennedy III, Kennedy's grandnephew: “The Kennedy Center is a living memorial to a fallen president and named for President Kennedy by federal law. It can no sooner be renamed than can someone rename the Lincoln Memorial, no matter what anyone says.“ Maria Shriver, Kennedy's niece: “It is beyond comprehension that this sitting president has sought to rename this great memorial dedicated to President Kennedy. It is beyond wild that he would think adding his name in front of President Kennedy's name is acceptable. It is not.“ Erika Donalds, wife of Florida Republican Byron Donalds: “POTUS revived the Kennedy Center, rescuing it from financial ruin, physical decline, and reputational damage caused by years of Democrat mismanagement and liberal control. Renaming it the Trump-Kennedy Center is a well-deserved honor, one of many still to come!“ A tarp covering the the Kennedy Center is dropped as workers finish installing President Donald Trump's name on the facade of the building in Washington, D.C. on Friday, December 19, 2025. (Photo by Annabelle Gordon/Sipa USA)(Sipa via AP Images) What Happens Next The decision requires approval from the Kennedy Center's Board of Trustees before implementation. Update 2/1/26, 8:23 p.m. ET: This article has been updated with additional information.