Trump Kennedy Center to close for 2 years, Trump says...

President Donald Trump announced Feb. 1 that he intends to close the Trump-Kennedy Center in Washington, DC for two years, saying that it is necessary for renovations. "I have determined that the fastest way to bring The Trump Kennedy Center to the highest level of Success, Beauty, and Grandeur, is to cease Entertainment Operations for an approximately two year period of time, with a scheduled Grand Reopening that will rival and surpass anything that has taken place with respect to such a Facility before," Trump wrote in a Truth Social post. Trump said the center would close on July 4, "in honor of the 250th Anniversary of our Country." He noted that the closure is subject to approval by the center's board of directors. The president cleared out the previous board shortly after taking office in 2025 and replaced them with his own picks, who then named him the chairman. The building was formerly called the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts before the board voted unanimously on Dec. 18 to rename the venue The Donald J. Trump and The John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts. The closure comes in the wake of demolition on the East Wing of the White House for a “modernization and renovation” as a new ballroom is built. Images of the demolition sparked outrage and drew legal challenges to the project. USA TODAY has reached out to the center for further comment. 'Melania' panned but still makes splash. What could it mean? Closure comes as stars cancel The center historically has hosted over 2,000 events per year, according to the website. However, the it has seen an exodus of performers who have been cancelling appearances in the wake of Trump taking over the venue, including Issa Rae, "Wicked" composer Stephen Schwartz, and most recently, Nashville banjoist Béla Fleck. Schwartz said in a statement to Newsday that the center "no longer represents the apolitical place for free artistic expression it was founded to be." A venue by any other name: Did Trump's hand-picked board break law in renaming Kennedy Center? The venue served as the location for the premiere of "Melania," the Amazon-produced documentary on first lady Melania Trump, on Jan. 29. Trump called the center "tired, broken, and dilapidated" in his most recent post and said the "Financing is completed, and fully in place" for the building's renovation. This story has been updated to include new information