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WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump declared on Sunday that he intends to shut down the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington for a two-year period starting in July to facilitate construction work.
Trump shared this decision on social media, which comes on the heels of a spate of event cancellations following his replacement of the venue’s leadership and the addition of his name to the building. Notably, Trump did not acknowledge the recent cancellations in his announcement.
His declaration comes just days after the premiere of “Melania,” a documentary about the First Lady, was screened at the iconic venue. Trump noted that the plan awaits approval from the Kennedy Center’s board, a body now heavily populated with individuals he has appointed. Trump himself serves as the chairman of the center’s board of trustees.
In his social media message, Trump stated, “This important decision, based on input from many Highly Respected Experts, will take a tired, broken, and dilapidated Center, one that has been in bad condition, both financially and structurally for many years, and turn it into a World Class Bastion of Arts, Music, and Entertainment.”
The announcement has drawn reactions from the arts community, with several prominent groups withdrawing from scheduled appearances. Most recently, composer Philip Glass pulled his Symphony No. 15 “Lincoln,” citing that the current values of the center starkly contradict the message intended in his composition.
Earlier this month, the Washington National Opera announced that it will move performances away from the Kennedy Center in another high-profile departure following Trump’s takeover of the U.S. capital’s leading performing arts venue.
A spokesperson for the Kennedy Center did not immediately respond to an emailed request for comment.