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BumRushDaShow

(169,944 posts) Mon Mar 16, 2026, 04:46 PM Mar 16

Kennedy Center board votes to close for two years during renovations

Source: The Guardian

Mon 16 Mar 2026 16.16 EDT
Last modified on Mon 16 Mar 2026 16.18 EDT

The Kennedy Center board of trustees unanimously voted on Monday in favor of a controversial plan to temporarily shutter the arts institution for renovations, rubber-stamping a $257m project initiated by Donald Trump to remake the arts institution in line with other grand plans for Washington DC.

In a statement, the center said it had voted for “a comprehensive revitalization project” lasting two years that would follow an Independence Day celebration in July with “a grand re-opening to follow”.

The notice added that the board’s decision to pause operations would “allow for the most comprehensive and efficient renovation effort, setting the stage for a revitalized national cultural and entertainment complex for all Americans to enjoy”.

“From day one, our mission was to make the Trump Kennedy Center a place every American could be proud of, and this renovation is the fulfillment of that promise,” outgoing president Richard Grenell said in the statement. “What comes next will be worth the wait.” Earlier Monday, as the meeting of trustees began, Trump said: “You have to close it.”

Read more: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/mar/16/kennedy-center-closing-renovation-trump

18 replies

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Kennedy Center board votes to close for two years during renovations (Original Post) BumRushDaShow Mar 16 OP

They are so evil with this takeover. He's going to take it down to the steel skeleton. After looting it Blues Heron Mar 16 #1

There isn't enough sage in the world to purify this horror Easterncedar Mar 16 #2

This makes my heart hurt. pandr32 Mar 16 #3

His evil name will be pried and and sledge hammered from the Kennedy Center wall when TSF is finally gone... wcmagumba Mar 16 #4

It is NOT Trump Kennedy Center. sheshe2 Mar 16 #5

Or DC! erronis Mar 16 #7

Closed For Further Desecrations erronis Mar 16 #6

R.I.P. Kennedy Center. You were a bright star for the arts. sinkingfeeling Mar 16 #8

How could it possibly cost over a quarter billion? miyazaki Mar 16 #9

250 million to remodel an Arts Center is realistic. maxsolomon Mar 17 #14

It's very realistic if they are remodeling their bank accounts. miyazaki Mar 17 #17

Yeah, no one has any idea what the "remodel" scope is going to be. maxsolomon Mar 17 #18

The workers were all deported. twodogsbarking Mar 17 #10

The Kennedy Center and its programs will have to be re-built from the ground up once Dump is out of office. A national Martin68 Mar 17 #11

They are really closing for two years Blumancru Mar 17 #12

It's just an attempt to face save GenThePerservering Mar 17 #15

How does he have the power to renovate this building, Congress? travelingthrulife Mar 17 #13

...because he took over the Board of Trustees and installed a bunch of stooges with him as the chairman. LudwigPastorius Mar 17 #16

Blues Heron

(8,853 posts)

1. They are so evil with this takeover. He's going to take it down to the steel skeleton. After looting it

Reply to BumRushDaShow (Original post)

Mon Mar 16, 2026, 04:48 PM

Mar 16

Easterncedar

(6,294 posts)

2. There isn't enough sage in the world to purify this horror

Reply to BumRushDaShow (Original post)

Mon Mar 16, 2026, 04:52 PM

Mar 16

Last edited Tue Mar 17, 2026, 12:48 AM - Edit history (1)

pandr32

(14,282 posts)

3. This makes my heart hurt.

Reply to BumRushDaShow (Original post)

Mon Mar 16, 2026, 04:53 PM

Mar 16

It was built to honor a fallen president--not him, though I wish he would hurry up and 'fall'.

wcmagumba

(6,215 posts)

4. His evil name will be pried and and sledge hammered from the Kennedy Center wall when TSF is finally gone...

Reply to BumRushDaShow (Original post)

Mon Mar 16, 2026, 04:53 PM

Mar 16

Whatever arches and statues he has installed throughout DC and other places will need to be removed and sent to a dump...

sheshe2

(97,666 posts)

5. It is NOT Trump Kennedy Center.

Reply to BumRushDaShow (Original post)

Mon Mar 16, 2026, 05:02 PM

Mar 16

Get the hell out of Boston, trump, we don't want you here.

“From day one, our mission was to make the Trump Kennedy Center a place every American could be proud of, and this renovation is the fulfillment of that promise,” outgoing president Ric Grenell said in the statement. “What comes next will be worth the wait.”

Trump’s civic improvements program has so far included demolishing the White House’s East Wing to make away for a 100,000 sq ft ballroom, to be called the White House State Ballroom, and digging up the Rose Garden for an entertaining area where ladies wont risk sinking their heels into the lawn.