Posted on 02/01/2026 4:47:20 PM PST by Miami Rebel
The Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington will close for roughly two years to allow for extensive renovations, President Donald Trump said Sunday.
Trump said on social media he determined that the closure, slated for July 4, “will produce a much faster and higher quality result” as he seeks to rebuild the complex.
Trump said the move is pending approval by the center’s board, whose members were picked by the president.
“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, adding that financing is “fully in place.”
CNN has reached out to the Kennedy Center and the White House for additional details.
The president’s announcement comes as the nation’s preeminent performing arts center contends with a flood of cancellations that began soon after the board added the president’s name to the complex. Most recently, award-winning composer Philip Glass withdrew the June world premiere of his symphony based on Abraham Lincoln.
Trump has made reshaping the Kennedy Center a priority in his second term. His “One Big, Beautiful Bill” included $257 million for “necessary expenses for capital repair, restoration, maintenance backlog, and security structures.” Trump has touted restoration of the exterior marble, the interior chairs and “fully” renovated stages, which he said last summer will be complete within a year.
(Excerpt) Read more at cnn.com ...
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Maybe there will be some update to its insipid exterior.
Just cuz it’s covered it marble doesn’t mean its exterior isn’t soulless
Leftists have a full down meltdown in three, two, one...
Evidently the taxpayers will be paying for this. I’m all for using tax dollars for things like national defense and the interstate highway system.
But for a concert hall only a small fraction of average Americans will ever see?
Eh, no.
Nine years ago, Americans were not sure that we should have secure borders.
Two years from now, Trump will find bands willing to perform at the Kennedy Center.
Awesome.
It’s a shame that he’ll miss being able to go to performances there for 2 years but at least he’ll have one full year of a gloriously redone building. Looking forward to what he accomplishes. He’s doing a great job at upgrading facilities and monuments. Fine with me to use our tax dollars for this. Certainly prefer it going to renovate public buildings to our monies going to fraud and Democrat money laundering.
He’s into classic architecture, which I love.
Maybe get a better bust of JFK? My little sister used to call it the “giant mud head.”
I saw a lot of great things at the Kennedy Center when I was in my teens. My mom took me to see the New York City Ballet there a couple of times. I swooned over Eddie Villella. He was late in his career then but still got amazing height on his leaps.
Saw some traveling Broadway shows like “Desert Song,” “Pippin” and most memorable, “Show Boat” with William Warfield. He was also late in his career, but when those bass notes of his from “Old Man River” rolled out around the theater, I had chills.
I don’t think the Kennedy Center has had much in the way of a facelift in years. It’s probably time.
“Most recently, award-winning composer Philip Glass withdrew the June world premiere of his symphony based on Abraham Lincoln.”
Oh, that’s a shame...because listening to his ‘music’ is like CHEWING Glass!
https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=LR5ruhSoxVQ&list=OLAK5uy_kLDJvX7MbM0EgzvFyuOGI_WD6wvTNid_I
Won’t be missed one bit.
And gold paint on everything.
Checked out your profile page. Nicely done. GMTA.
I’ll take Jean-Michel Jarre over Philip Glass any day.
Even though he’s French.
He *did* do an amazing laser light show on the skyline of Houston. About 1.5 million of us watched it live.
As long as they get rid of those stupid rainbow collars I am all for it!!
With all due respect, everything from the Always Trumpers is that he's in control and he is always winning and always getting ready to do something., with zero accountability. He was elected to dRain tHe SwAMp! and he can't even close a place where NO ONE WANTS TO PLAY!!!
Two years from now, Trump will find bands willing to perform at the Kennedy Center.
I don't believe that for a second. He will be bigger poison than he is now. He may not even be a free man if he blows the midterms, which it looks like he will.
Of course, CNN refuses to call it by it’s full name, The Donald J. Trump and The Kennedy Center.
If we truly do “TA”, then you might be as worried about this “Someday Never Comes” presidency as me, and are preparing accordingly. Good luck.
Yes! Jean-Michel Jarre is quite ‘Techno’ and very up-beat. Love it! :)
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