The reconstruction will ‘turn it into a World Class Bastion of Arts, Music, and Entertainment,’ the president says.
President Donald Trump said on Feb. 1 that the Trump-Kennedy Center in Washington will be closed for two years starting July 4 for renovation work.
Trump, chairman of the center’s board, said the decision was made following a yearlong review of the center involving contractors, musical experts, art institutions, and other advisers and consultants.
In a Truth Social post, Trump said the temporary closure will “produce a much faster and higher quality result,” as it would eliminate disruptions from the many events taking place at the center.
“Based on these findings, and totally subject to Board approval, 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,” he said.
Renovations will start once the center closes in July, with financing already “fully in place,” according to the president. He did not specify how much the renovation will cost.
“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, far better than it has ever been before,” he said.
Kennedy Center President Richard Grenell said the shutdown would be brief “in retrospect,” adding that the goal is to preserve the center and transform it into the world’s finest arts institution.
He added that Congress has appropriated $275 million for the center’s maintenance and repairs.
“It desperately needs this renovation and temporarily closing the Center just makes sense—it will enable us to better invest our resources, think bigger and make the historic renovations more comprehensive. It also means we will be finished faster,” Grenell said on X.
