President Donald Trump announced Sunday that he plans to close the Kennedy Center for approximately two years to undergo a complete reconstruction. This proposal comes nearly a year after the president took over the arts institution and presidential memorial, remaking it in his own image and adding his name to the facade. However, more interestingly, it comes after lagging ticket sales, multiple artist cancellations, and staff resignation.
Trump posted on Truth Social that he has determined the facility, now known as The Trump Kennedy Center, needs to be temporarily closed for “Construction, Revitalization, and Complete Rebuilding.” If that wasn’t clear, he plans to demolish it. He stated that if they don’t close, the construction quality won’t be as good, and the time to completion will be much longer because of interruptions from audiences attending events.
According to The Washington Post, Kennedy Center President Richard Grenell quickly confirmed the plans in an email to staff. He pointed out that the center desperately needs this renovation, citing the $257 million designated last year through the One Big Beautiful Bill Act for capital repair and maintenance backlog. Grenell echoed this in a post on X, praising the President for his “visionary Leadership.”
Well. That is one way to react to a boycott
Grenell might be excited, but the descendants of President John F. Kennedy are absolutely furious. Jack Schlossberg, a grandson of the late president, wrote that Trump “can take the Kennedy Center for himself. He can change the name, shut the doors, and demolish the building.” He dramatically concluded that the president “can try to kill JFK,” but stressed that the legacy is kept alive by those rising up to remove Trump.
Former Rep. Joe Kennedy III, a grandson of Robert F. Kennedy, slammed the move as a “trespass on the People’s will.” He took the opportunity to remind everyone about the history and reasons behind the Center.
Maria Shriver, a niece of the former president, offered a sharp theory on the real reason for the closure: artist cancellations. She wrote that the closure is a result of “entertainers canceling left and right” because no one wants to perform there any longer following the controversial name change. She had also been very scathing regarding the name change, so it isn’t surprising that her opinion hasn’t changed.
Since Trump took over, sales of subscription packages and tickets have fallen dramatically, and empty seats have become a regular sight. Dozens of high-profile artists and productions, including composer Philip Glass, soprano Renée Fleming, and the Washington National Opera, have canceled upcoming events or moved out entirely. Even the leadership has seen a mass exodus, with key artistic advisors like Renée Fleming and Ben Folds quitting.
This whole situation is a mess, and honestly, feels like a tantrum. There is no indication of what will happen with annual events like the Kennedy Center Honors.
Published: Feb 3, 2026 10:29 am