Trump Calls for 2-Year Closure of Kennedy Center

President says shutting down entertainment operations will help 'bring The Trump Kennedy Center to the highest level of Success, Beauty, and Grandeur'.

Feb. 1, 2026 at 11:55pm

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President Donald Trump announced on social media that he has determined the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. should cease all entertainment operations for approximately two years, with plans for a grand reopening that will 'rival and surpass anything that has taken place with respect to such a Facility before.' The arts and entertainment center has faced turmoil in recent months following Trump's appointment as chairman and his push to change the organization's focus.

Why it matters

The Kennedy Center is one of the most prominent performing arts venues in the United States, hosting over 2,000 events per year. Trump's directive to shut down operations for two years would significantly disrupt the center's programming and impact the local arts and entertainment community in Washington, D.C.

The details

In a post on the social media platform Truth Social, Trump said he has 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.' The announcement comes amid ongoing turmoil at the Kennedy Center following Trump's appointment as chairman and his push to change the organization's focus.

  • On February 1, 2026, President Trump announced the Kennedy Center should cease entertainment operations starting on July 4, 2026.

The players

Donald Trump

The 45th President of the United States, who was recently appointed as the chairman of the Kennedy Center.

The Kennedy Center

The John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts, a prominent arts and entertainment venue in Washington, D.C. that hosts over 2,000 events per year.

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What they’re saying

“Based on these findings, and totally subject to Board approval, 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.”

— Donald Trump, President of the United States (Truth Social)

What’s next

The Kennedy Center's board of directors will need to approve Trump's directive to cease entertainment operations for two years. If approved, the center would be closed to the public starting on July 4, 2026, with plans for a grand reopening at a later date.

The takeaway

Trump's announcement to shut down the Kennedy Center for two years is a dramatic move that would significantly disrupt the operations of one of the nation's most prominent performing arts venues. The decision raises questions about the future direction of the institution under Trump's leadership and the impact on the local arts community in Washington, D.C.