(United States, 2nd) U.S. President Trump announced on social media that the “Trump-Kennedy Center” will suspend all activities starting July 4th for about two years for renovations.
According to Reuters, Trump wrote on Truth Social on Sunday (February 1): “I want to bring the Trump-Kennedy Center to the highest level of success, beauty, and grandeur. The fastest way is to pause entertainment programs for about two years, and plan a grand reopening ceremony, one that will rival or even surpass any previous reopening of similar venues.”
In February, Trump replaced half of the Kennedy Center’s board members, made himself chairman of the Kennedy Center, and renamed the iconic Washington D.C. building the “Trump-Kennedy Center,” sparking a new round of controversy.
The Kennedy Center, named after the 35th president of the United States, President Kennedy, officially opened in 1971.
In December 2025, the White House announced that the Kennedy Center would be renamed the “Trump-Kennedy Center.” This name change has directly affected the Center’s normal cultural activities, with some musicians and performing groups announcing cancellations or withdrawing from performances at the Trump-Kennedy Center.
The renaming move has faced strong opposition from the Democratic Party and the Kennedy family. Democratic House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries said the Kennedy Center board does not have the authority to do this—only Congress can rename the Kennedy Center. Kennedy’s niece Maria Shriver posted on social media that Trump’s act of putting his name before Kennedy’s was “utterly absurd.”
In February, Trump replaced half of the Kennedy Center’s board members, made himself chairman of the Kennedy Center, and renamed the iconic Washington D.C. building the “Trump-Kennedy Center,” sparking a new round of controversy.
The Kennedy Center, named after the 35th president of the United States, President Kennedy, officially opened in 1971.
In December 2025, the White House announced that the Kennedy Center would be renamed the “Trump-Kennedy Center.” This name change has directly affected the Center’s normal cultural activities, with some musicians and performing groups announcing cancellations or withdrawing from performances at the Trump-Kennedy Center.
The renaming move has faced strong opposition from the Democratic Party and the Kennedy family. Democratic House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries said the Kennedy Center board does not have the authority to do this—only Congress can rename the Kennedy Center. Kennedy’s niece Maria Shriver posted on social media that Trump’s act of putting his name before Kennedy’s was “utterly absurd.”