By Harshit
WASHINGTON, FEBRUARY 2, 2026
US President Donald Trump has announced plans to shut down the recently renamed Trump–Kennedy Center in Washington, DC, for approximately two years, citing the need for extensive renovations aimed at transforming the venue into what he described as a world-class cultural landmark.
In a post on his Truth Social platform on February 1, Trump said he had determined that the fastest way to elevate the center to “the highest level of Success, Beauty, and Grandeur” was to suspend all entertainment operations during the renovation period.
The closure is scheduled to begin on July 4, 2026, a date Trump said was chosen “in honor of the 250th Anniversary of our Country.” The president added that the plan is subject to approval by the center’s board of directors.
Board Restructuring Paved the Way
Trump’s announcement follows sweeping changes to the governance of the institution. Shortly after taking office in 2025, he removed the existing board of directors and replaced it with his own appointees. The new board later named Trump as chairman.
In December 2025, the board voted unanimously to rename the building — formerly known as the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts — as The Donald J. Trump and The John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts. The decision sparked legal scrutiny and cultural debate over whether the renaming violated the center’s founding charter.
Cultural Backlash and Artist Withdrawals
The planned closure comes amid growing controversy surrounding Trump’s takeover of the venue. The center has historically hosted more than 2,000 performances and events each year, but has recently seen a wave of cancellations by prominent artists.
Actors, composers, and musicians including Issa Rae, Stephen Schwartz, and Béla Fleck have withdrawn from scheduled appearances. Schwartz, the composer behind Wicked, said the venue no longer represented the “apolitical place for free artistic expression it was founded to be.”
Despite the backlash, the center recently hosted the premiere of Melania, an Amazon-produced documentary about First Lady Melania Trump, on January 29.
Renovation Plans and Wider Construction Controversy
Trump described the building as “tired, broken, and dilapidated,” asserting that full financing for the renovation is already secured. While no detailed architectural plans have been released, the president promised a “Grand Reopening” that would surpass anything previously associated with the venue.
The announcement comes as construction work is already underway nearby. Demolition of the East Wing of the White House has begun as part of a controversial modernization project that includes the construction of a new ballroom. Images of that demolition have triggered public outrage and legal challenges, raising questions about the administration’s broader approach to historic preservation.
What Comes Next
USA Today and other outlets have sought comment from the center’s leadership, but no official response has yet been issued. If approved by the board, the shutdown would mark one of the longest closures in the institution’s history, effectively pausing one of the nation’s most prominent performing arts stages during a period of intense cultural and political polarization.
For now, the future of the Trump–Kennedy Center remains a flashpoint in the wider debate over politics, public institutions, and the role of art in American civic life.
