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President Donald Trump has unveiled further ambitions for the Kennedy Center, following his efforts to rename the iconic venue. His vision extends beyond mere renaming, aiming to transform the space entirely.
Trump, now 79, shared via Truth Social on February 1st that the “Trump Kennedy Center” is slated to close on July 4th, 2026. This closure will mark the celebration of the United States’ 250th Anniversary and will also signal the commencement of construction for a new, spectacular entertainment complex. “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, far better than it has ever been before,” he elaborated.
The former president assured that the project’s financing is already secured, promising a transformation that will leave America “very proud” of what he envisions as a “new and beautiful Landmark.”
However, not everyone shares Trump’s enthusiasm. Maria Shriver, niece of John F. Kennedy, has voiced her disapproval of the renaming. After workers affixed Trump’s name to the Washington D.C. building, Shriver expressed her concerns and posed questions for the current president, challenging the appropriateness of altering a memorial already dedicated to her uncle’s legacy.
Maria Shriver is speaking out against the Kennedy Center’s new name once again. Hours after workers added Donald Trump’s name to the Washington D.C. building, the niece of John F. Kennedy had some questions for the current president of the United States. “Adding your name to a memorial already named in honor of a great […]
For many of former President John F. Kennedy’s family members, the news is personal and one they don’t take lightly.
“Do not be distracted from what this Administration is actually trying to erase,” JFK’s nephew Joe Kennedy III wrote via X on Sunday. “Our connection, our community and our commitment to the rights of all.”
Keep reading to see more Kennedy family members react to the latest changes with the Kennedy Center:
Maria Shriver
Maria Shriver Rodin Eckenroth/Getty Images
After reposting Donald Trump’s Truth Social post, Maria Shriver decided to respond with her own perspective.
“Translation: It has been brought to my attention that due to the name change (but nobody’s telling me it’s due to the name change), but it’s been brought to my attention that entertainers are canceling left and right, and I have determined that since the name change no one wants to perform there any longer,” JFK’s niece wrote via X. “I’ve determined that due to this change in schedule, it’s best for me to close this center down and rebuild a new center that will bear my name, which will surely get everybody to stop talking about the fact that everybody’s canceling… right?”
Joe Kennedy III
“President John F. Kennedy believed that one day this country would live up to its promise of justice and equal rights for all. For those beliefs and for his sacrifice, Congress voted to make The Kennedy Center a living memorial to him, as a place built by the people for the people to celebrate what connects us,” JFK’s nephew Joe Kennedy III wrote via X. “While this trespass on the People’s will is painful, President Kennedy would remind us that it is not buildings that define the greatness of a nation. It is the actions of its people and its leaders.”
Maria Shriver is expressing her disappointment over President Donald Trump’s support to rename the Kennedy Center. “The Kennedy Center was named after my uncle, President John F Kennedy. It was named in his honor,” Shriver, 70, wrote via Instagram on Thursday, December 18. “He was a man who was interested in the arts, interested in […]
Jack Schlossberg
“Trump can take the Kennedy Center for himself. He can change the name, shut the doors, and demolish the building,” JFK’s only grandson, Jack Schlossberg, wrote via X. “He can try to kill JFK. But JFK is kept alive by us now rising up to remove Donald Trump, bring him to justice, and restore the freedoms generations fought for.”