Trump will close the iconic Kennedy Center in Washington for renovations

The place, which the billionaire renamed to include his name, will close on July 4th during the celebrations of the 250th anniversary of the United States, Mr. Trump indicated on his Truth Social network.

"I have determined that halting its entertainment operations for a period of approximately two years is the fastest way to bring the Trump Kennedy Center to the highest level of success, beauty, and grandeur," he explained.

This large white building had been offering a diverse cultural program since 1971, drawing on a long tradition of political neutrality.

But Donald Trump has taken back control of the institution since returning to the White House a year ago. He has placed his close associates in leadership positions, drag shows and events celebrating the LGBT+ community have been eliminated, while conferences from the religious right have been organized and Christian artists have been invited.

In response, some artists have decided to cancel their scheduled performances at this institution, such as the hit musical "Hamilton", or the jazz group The Cookers.

"Everyone is cancelling"

Donald Trump did not specify the extent of the planned renovations, which he said would transform a "dilapidated" institution into a "world-class bastion of arts, music and entertainment".

"The financing is finalized and fully in place!", added the billionaire, himself chairman of the board of the venue which hosted the premiere of "Melania", the documentary about the First Lady, at the end of January.

Its facade now displays the name "Trump Kennedy Center," a change considered the ultimate symbol of his takeover. It has been denounced by President Kennedy's family and by the Democratic opposition, which contests its legality in the absence of legislation in Congress.

Donald Trump had said he was "honored" and "surprised" by the decision - although he had spoken insistently of the "Trump-Kennedy Center" since his return to power, pretending to joke.

Maria Shriver, author and member of the Kennedy family, linked the announcement of the center's impending closure on X to the fact that "nobody wants to perform there anymore" and that "everyone is cancelling."

The latest to cancel performances is composer Philip Glass. The master of repetitive and minimalist music, a three-time Oscar nominee, judged "the values ​​of the Kennedy Center today (...) to be in direct contradiction with the message of the symphony" he was to present there, which is dedicated to President Abraham Lincoln, who abolished slavery.

The Washington National Opera recently announced that it will be leaving the center, where it has been based since its opening more than 50 years ago.

In October, the Washington Post revealed that ticket sales there had fallen to their lowest level since the pandemic.

Since returning to power, Mr. Trump has launched transformations of iconic Washington landmarks, beginning with the construction of a 1.000-seat ballroom at the White House, costing several hundred million dollars, as well as a project for an imposing arch near the Lincoln Memorial.