President Donald Trumpannounced Feb. 1 that he intends to close the Trump-Kennedy Center in Washington, DC for two years, saying that it is necessary for renovations.
"I have determined that the fastest way to bring The Trump Kennedy Center to the highest level of Success, Beauty, and Grandeur, is to cease Entertainment Operations for an approximately two year period of time, with a scheduled Grand Reopening that will rival and surpass anything that has taken place with respect to such a Facility before,"Trump wrote in a Truth Social post.
Trump said the center would close on July 4, "in honor of the 250th Anniversary of our Country." He noted that the closure is subject to approval by the center's board of directors. The president cleared out the previous board shortly after taking office in 2025 and replaced them with his own picks, who thennamed him the chairman.
The building was formerly called theJohn F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Artsbefore the board voted unanimously on Dec. 18to rename the venueThe Donald J. Trump and The John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts.
The closure comes in the wake ofdemolition on the East Wingof the White House for a "modernization and renovation" as anew ballroomis built. Images of the demolition sparked outrage anddrew legal challenges to the project.
USA TODAY has reached out to the center for further comment.
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The center historically has hosted over 2,000 events per year, according to the website.
However, the it has seen anexodus of performers who have been cancelling appearancesin the wake of Trump taking over the venue, including Issa Rae, "Wicked" composerStephen Schwartz, and most recently,Nashville banjoist Béla Fleck.
Schwartz said in a statement to Newsday that the center "no longer represents the apolitical place for free artistic expression it was founded to be."
An aerial view shows the Demolition of the East Wing of the White House, where U.S. President Donald Trump's proposed ballroom will be built, in Washington, D.C., Oct. 23, 2025, in this picture obtained from social media." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
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The venue served as the location for the premiere of "Melania," the Amazon-produced documentary onfirst lady Melania Trump, on Jan. 29.
Trump called the center "tired, broken, and dilapidated" in his most recent post and said the "Financing is completed, and fully in place" for the building's renovation.
This story has been updated to include new information
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Trump Kennedy Center to close for 2 years for construction, Trump says
