Kennedy Center to close for two years of renovations, says Donald Trump
Donald Trump has announced that the Kennedy Center is set to close in the coming months in order to undergo two years of renovation works.
The US president made the announcement on his Truth Social platform on January 31st, explaining that the performing arts institution would shut its doors on July 4th, after this year’s Independence Day celebrations, “in honour of the 250th Anniversary of our Country”, per BBC News.
It comes after Trump caused controversy last month, when he announced that he had renamed the venue the Trump Kennedy Center, sparking outcry from across the cultural sphere as well as from the family of the late John F Kennedy.
Nevertheless, the president wrote on Truth Social: “I have determined that The Trump Kennedy Center, if temporarily closed for construction, revitalisation, and complete rebuilding, can be, without question, the finest performing arts facility of its kind, anywhere in the world.”
He added: “In other words, if we don’t close, the quality of construction will not be nearly as good, and the time to completion, because of interruptions with audiences from the many events using the facility, will be much longer.”
A number of artists have cancelled their scheduled appearances at the Kennedy Center in recent weeks, in light of Trump’s takeover of the institution. Renowned classical composer Philip Glass became the latest to do so last week, pulling out of the premiere of his new symphony, Lincoln, in June because the venue is now in “direct conflict” with the ethos of his work.
The venue and its prestige has been a target in Trump’s sights ever since the beginning of his second term, with a screening of the First Lady’s new documentary Melania taking place there last week.
However, this has been part of a process ever since he arrived back in power, with one of his earliest acts being to remove all the existing board members of the institution and insert himself as chair.
Trump has worked with the US Congress to secure more than $250 million of government funds to go towards the renovation project, having previously slammed the declining conditions of the Kennedy Center.
