Overview
- Trump announced on Truth Social that the arts complex will close on July 4, 2026 for roughly two years for construction, revitalization and a “complete rebuilding.”
- He said the plan follows a one-year review with contractors and arts advisors and claimed financing is “completed, and fully in place,” without providing an independent cost or funding breakdown.
- Board approval is still required; the trustees he installed previously voted to append his name to the facility, a move now challenged in court and criticized by lawmakers who note Congress set the center’s name in law.
- Trump and allies have cited a $257 million congressional allocation for repairs, though how that relates to the broader overhaul he describes has not been detailed.
- Artist withdrawals and staff turnover have mounted, including Philip Glass pulling a premiere, the Washington National Opera moving out, and the programming chief resigning, leaving open questions about the National Symphony Orchestra and the future of the Kennedy Center Honors.