Kennedy Center Shuts for 2 Years Over $250 Million Renovation as Trump Presses Naming Fight
Updated
Updated · The Washington Post · Sep 17
Kennedy Center Shuts for 2 Years Over $250 Million Renovation as Trump Presses Naming Fight
3 articles · Updated · The Washington Post · Sep 17
Summary
The Kennedy Center has closed for at least two years, with Trump-allied board members saying a roughly $250 million overhaul is needed after plaster fell during a recent storm.
Trump tied the shutdown to recognition for his administration, saying the venue could otherwise "close" or be "ripped down," while a court filing surfaced a printout he reviewed that appeared to reference possible demolition.
Judge Christopher Cooper had already barred Trump from restoring his name to the building, ruling in May that only Congress can change the congressionally set Kennedy Center name; Trump is still fighting in court.
Critics say the closure is less about urgent repairs than leverage in Trump's naming campaign, noting fundraising and ticket sales deteriorated after he took over the board and artists pulled back.
The dispute has widened beyond the arts center, with ethics and democracy advocates casting it as another test of how far Trump will push executive power despite legal limits.