Trump Says Kennedy Center Will Close For Two Years For Renovations

President Donald Trump announced Sunday that he has wished that nan Kennedy Center for nan Performing Arts successful Washington, should adjacent for astir 2 years.

Trump, who wrote connected Truth Social that nan determination is “totally subject” to support by his handpicked board, said that nan halfway will adjacent connected July 4 and that “financing is completed, and afloat successful place.” Trump did not elaborate connected wherever nan backing came from. The White House did not instantly respond to a petition for remark connected questions astir nan funding.

Trump added that nan determination was made based connected a reappraisal that progressive “Contractors, Musical Experts, Art Institutions, and different Advisors and Consultants,” who were weighing building pinch closure and re-opening aliases partial building while intermezo operations continued.

A spokesperson for nan Kennedy Center did not instantly respond to a petition for remark astir Trump’s announcement, what nan center’s committee thinks of nan rumor aliases what would hap to nan center’s existing programming.

Trump said that nan closure will “produce a overmuch faster and higher value result,” that nan Kennedy Center tin beryllium “the finest Performing Arts Facility of its kind” and that location will beryllium a “Grand Reopening” aft nan renovation.

He called nan Kennedy Center — wherever nan premiere of first woman Melania Trump's documentary was held last week — “tired, broken, and dilapidated,” adding that it “has been successful bad condition, some financially and structurally for galore years.”

Trump has taken a typical liking successful nan Kennedy Center since he returned to agency past year. He replaced nan center’s committee pinch a handpicked group of members who named him chair and changed programming astatine nan center, including removing Pride events.

Late past year, nan committee moved to rename nan halfway to see Trump’s name. It was past affixed to nan facade — earlier President John F. Kennedy’s sanction — a time later.

The renaming drew disapproval from Kennedy family members and members of Congress. Rep. Joyce Beatty, D-Ohio, who is connected nan committee arsenic an ex officio member, sued nan administration for changing nan center’s name, claiming it was not a lawful move, arsenic nan halfway was established by legislation.

Since nan renaming, a flurry of artists person canceled their appearances astatine nan center, including nan composer of nan deed philharmonic “Wicked,” Stephen Schwartz, who dropped retired from hosting a gala for nan Washington National Opera. The opera has since near nan center, wherever it had performed since 1971.