US President Donald Trump has announced that the John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts will stop hosting events for nearly two years, beginning July 4, 2026, a move he says is necessary to carry out a full-scale reconstruction of the iconic cultural institution.
The announcement was made by Trump on Sunday through posts on Truth Social and X. The planned shutdown will begin on Independence Day, which also marks the 250th anniversary of the United States, and is subject to approval by the Kennedy Center’s governing board.
Why Trump wants a full shutdown
Trump said the decision followed a year-long review involving contractors, musical experts, art institutions, advisers and consultants. According to him, two options were examined. One involved carrying out construction while allowing performances to continue. The other proposed a temporary but complete closure to enable faster and higher-quality rebuilding.
He said he chose the second option.
“After a one year review of The Trump Kennedy Center, that has taken place with Contractors, Musical Experts, Art Institutions, and other Advisors and Consultants, deciding between either Construction with Closure and Re-Opening or, Partial Construction while continuing Entertainment Operations through a much longer period of time, working in and around the Performances, I have determined that The Trump Kennedy Center, if temporarily closed for Construction, Revitalization, and Complete Rebuilding, can be, without question, the finest Performing Arts Facility of its kind, anywhere in the World,” Trump wrote.
He argued that keeping the venue open during renovation would slow the process and compromise construction quality.
“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,” he added.
What the plan involves
Trump said the proposed closure would last for approximately two years and result in a “Grand Reopening” that would “rival and surpass anything that has taken place with respect to such a Facility before.”
“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,” he said.
He also claimed that financing for the reconstruction was already secured and fully in place. Trump described the current state of the centre as financially and structurally weak, saying it had been in poor condition for many years. According to him, the rebuilding effort would turn it into a “World Class Bastion of Arts, Music, and Entertainment” that Americans would be proud of for generations.
Backlash and uncertainty
The announcement comes amid ongoing turmoil at the Kennedy Center. The institution has faced criticism since Trump appointed himself chairman, pushed to change its artistic direction and supported adding his name to the centre.
The Kennedy Center typically hosts more than 2,000 events each year. However, several artists have withdrawn from scheduled performances since the shake-up began. Among those who cancelled appearances are a touring production of “Hamilton,” composer Philip Glass and actress Issa Rae.
Concerns remain over how existing commitments, resident companies and international partnerships will be handled during the proposed shutdown. The Kennedy Center did not immediately respond to requests for comment, and the closure plan will require formal approval from its board before it can move forward.
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