President Donald Trump announced the planned closure of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts for up to two years, starting July 4, as part of a major renovation project. The closure, pending board approval, aims to transform what Trump called a "tired, broken, and dilapidated" facility into the "finest Performing Arts Facility of its kind."
The announcement is the latest development in a tumultuous period for the Kennedy Center, which began when Trump was elected chair of its board. The institution has faced artist boycotts, the departure of resident companies, and previous controversial actions by Trump, including an attempt to add his name to the building. The closure raises immediate questions about the fate of the National Symphony Orchestra's season and a commissioned symphony by Philip Glass, while also fitting into a broader pattern of Trump's efforts to physically remake significant Washington, D.C., landmarks.