Neither Trump nor Kennedy Center President Ric Grenell, a Trump ally, have provided evidence to back up their claims about the building being in disrepair, and last October, Trump had pledged the center would remain open during renovations. In Sunday’s announcement, Trump said the center will close on July 4th, when he said the construction would begin. Since Trump returned to the White House, the Kennedy Center is one of many Washington landmarks that he has sought to overhaul in his second term. A spokesperson for the Kennedy Center could not immediately be reached and did not respond to an emailed request for comment. “Let’s be clear: remodeling the premises will not restore the Kennedy Center to what it was.

Source: Huffington Post February 02, 2026 21:08 UTC