Hello and welcome to the details of Trump orders two-year shutdown of Kennedy Centre for ‘complete rebuilding’ on US 250th anniversary and now with the details
Nevin Al Sukari - Sana'a - US President Donald Trump speaks to journalists as he attends the world premiere of Amazon MGM Studios’ ‘Melania’ at the Kennedy Centre in Washington January 29, 2026. — AFP pic
WASHINGTON, Feb 2 — US President Donald Trump announced yesterday he is closing the Kennedy Centre arts complex in Washington for two years, beginning on July 4 — the nation’s 250th anniversary — for a thorough renovation.
Since returning to office, Trump has launched a forceful takeover of the once non-partisan centre, branding some of its programming too “woke” and adding his own name to the facade.
“I have determined that the fastest way to bring The Trump Kennedy Centre to the highest level of Success, Beauty, and Grandeur, is to cease Entertainment Operations for an approximately two-year period of time,” Trump, who is the centre’s chairman of the board, posted on his Truth Social platform.
The decision, he said, will be subject to approval of the board, which he handpicked upon taking over as chairman.
Trump said the facility’s various entertainment events — concerts, operas, musicals, ballet performances, and interactive arts — would impede and slow the construction and renovation operations, and that a full temporary closure would be necessary.
“The Trump Kennedy Centre, if temporarily closed for Construction, Revitalisation, and Complete Rebuilding, can be, without question, the finest Performing Arts Facility of its kind, anywhere in the World,” he said.
“America will be very proud of its new and beautiful Landmark for many generations to come.”
The extent of the “complete rebuilding” mentioned by Trump is unclear, but he has long declared that the structure — built as a living memorial to slain US president John F Kennedy and opened in 1971 — is dilapidated and needs a facelift.
Since the makeover of the board, including the instalment of Trump as chairman, several prominent artists and shows have cancelled their appearances at the centre, including the musical Hamilton, operatic soprano Renee Fleming and renowned composer Philip Glass.
The Washington National Opera recently announced it would leave the Kennedy Centre, its home since the centre’s opening.
Some have directly cited Trump’s name being added to the institution and its facade, while others have noted logistical or financial pressures. — AFP
These were the details of the news Trump orders two-year shutdown of Kennedy Centre for ‘complete rebuilding’ on US 250th anniversary for this day. We hope that we have succeeded by giving you the full details and information. To follow all our news, you can subscribe to the alerts system or to one of our different systems to provide you with all that is new.
It is also worth noting that the original news has been published and is available at Malay Mail and the editorial team at AlKhaleej Today has confirmed it and it has been modified, and it may have been completely transferred or quoted from it and you can read and follow this news from its main source.
