Arts and Culture Policy

Trump announced the Trump Kennedy Center will close beginning July 4, 2026 for roughly two years for a major renovation, calling the building “tired, broken, and dilapidated,” and saying the project is funded though he gave no detailed financing sources. He clarified he will not tear down the building but will reuse the existing steel and frame while gutting interiors, replacing roofing, some marble and systems (he estimated about $200 million), a plan that still needs board approval and has prompted high‑profile artist cancellations and political backlash.