The Kennedy Center—now officially branded with Donald Trump’s name slapped in front of JFK’s—is shutting down for two years starting July 4, according to the president himself.
Trump announced Sunday that the historic performing arts venue needs major “renovations,” calling it “tired, broken, and dilapidated.”
He claims the closure will “produce a much faster and higher quality result” and promises a “Grand Reopening” afterward.
THE DETAILS: Trump says financing is “completed, and fully in place” for the renovations—but didn’t bother to explain where that money is coming from. The White House didn’t respond to questions about funding. He claims the decision came after a review involving “Contractors, Musical Experts, Art Institutions, and other Advisors and Consultants,” though none were named.
The Kennedy Center didn’t respond to questions about what happens to its existing programming or, you know, all the people who work there.
OF COURSE: This is just the latest chapter in Trump’s hostile takeover of the Kennedy Center. Since returning to office, he’s replaced the entire board with loyalists who named him chair, slapped his name on the building’s facade (before Kennedy’s), and stripped Pride events from the programming.
The result? A mass exodus. The composer of “Wicked” pulled out of hosting a gala. The Washington National Opera—which had performed there since 1971—left entirely. Artists have been canceling appearances left and right since Trump’s name went up.
Surey that has nothing to do with the sudden closure.
BUT BUT BUT: Rep. Joyce Beatty, a Democrat who sits on the board as an ex officio member, isn’t having it. She’s already sued the administration over the name change and blasted Sunday’s announcement.
“The Kennedy Center is congressionally funded, and Congress should have been consulted about any decision to shut down its operations or make major renovations, especially for two years,” Beatty said. She questioned what happens to employees, artists, and everyone holding contracts with the venue.
Her bottom line: “Remodeling the premises won’t restore the Kennedy Center to what it was. But a return to artistic independence will.”
WHY IT MATTERS: This isn’t really about fixing old seats or updating décor. Trump has been publicly obsessed with the Kennedy Center since touring it in March, when he declared, “We are going to make a lot of changes, including the seats, the decor, pretty much everything.”
The closure conveniently eliminates a venue that’s become a symbol of artistic resistance to his administration—right after the renaming sparked a cultural rebellion. A two-year shutdown means no more awkward cancellations, no more artists making political statements by refusing to perform under his name.
Just last week, the premiere of Melania Trump’s documentary was held there. Now the whole place is going dark on Independence Day. Make of that timing what you will.