Overview
- Trump announced on social media that operations would pause around July 4 for roughly two years to enable a faster, higher-quality reconstruction of the venue.
- He said the move requires Kennedy Center board approval and claimed financing is fully secured, while offering no public breakdown of costs or funding sources.
- Interim president Richard Grenell referenced a $257 million congressional appropriation for deferred repairs in an internal email supporting a temporary shutdown to speed work.
- Artist backlash has intensified, with composer Philip Glass pulling a planned symphony premiere, the Washington National Opera severing ties, and figures such as Issa Rae, Renée Fleming, Shonda Rhimes, Ben Folds, and the Hamilton producer exiting events or roles.
- Lawmakers continue to contest the addition of Trump’s name to the building, arguing any renaming of the federally chartered memorial requires congressional approval, as the Kennedy Center—typically staging over 2,000 events a year—faces major programming disruption.