<\/p>\n
By Daniel Trotta and Greg Bensinger<\/p>\n
Feb 1 (Reuters) \u2013 U.S. President Donald Trump said on Sunday he planned to close the John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts for two years for reconstruction starting in July.<\/p>\n
The national arts and entertainment center in Washington has \u200dbeen marked by turmoil in recent months following Trump\u2019s appointment of himself as chairman, his push to change the organization\u2019s focus, plans for reconstruction, and the board\u2019s addition of his name to the institution.<\/p>\n
Under Trump\u2019s plan, the center would close on July 4, the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.<\/p>\n
\u201cI have determined that the fastest way to bring The Trump Kennedy Center to the highest level of Success, Beauty, and Grandeur, is to \u200ccease Entertainment Operations for an approximately two year period of time, with a \u200cscheduled Grand Reopening that will rival and surpass anything that has taken place with respect to such a Facility before,\u201d Trump wrote on the social media platform Truth Social.<\/p>\n
The center did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment.<\/p>\n
Trump wrote the closure is subject to approval by the board. He added, without citing details, \u200bthat financing for the building project is complete.<\/p>\n
The Kennedy Center rebuilding plans follow a series of measures by Trump to reshape U.S. historical and cultural institutions, and another construction project on the president\u2019s initiative: the \u200dbulldozing of the East Wing of the White House in \u200border to build a large ballroom.<\/p>\n
He has said private fundraising will pay for \u200bthe $300 million East Wing ballroom, with many of the donations coming from wealthy individuals and large companies.<\/p>\n
The Washington \u200dPost reported on Saturday he wants to build a 250-foot (76-meter) tall monument called the Independence Arch.<\/p>\n
Trump named himself chairman of the Kennedy Center and filled its board with his allies last year. The board in December voted to rename the institution as the Donald J. Trump and the John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts, or Trump Kennedy Center.<\/p>\n
Many groups and artists subsequently withdrew from scheduled performances, \u200dciting \u2060the Republican leader\u2019s takeover.<\/p>\n
American composer Philip Glass pulled the world premiere of his symphony \u201cLincoln,\u201d and the Washington National Opera said earlier this month it planned to leave its home of 50 years. Producers of the hugely \u200dpopular musical \u201cHamilton\u201d canceled a planned 2026 \u200dengagement, and the Martha Graham Dance Company has canceled its next scheduled \u200bappearance at the Kennedy Center.<\/p>\n
Democrats, noting the \u200bcenter\u2019s name was established by Congress, have \u200bsaid \u200bTrump\u2019s rebranding \u2060has no force of law. John F. Kennedy\u2019s family denounced the renaming \u200cmove as undermining the slain president\u2019s \u200dlegacy.<\/p>\n
The Kennedy Center historically has hosted over 2,000 events per year, including the Kennedy Center Honors, usually held every December.<\/p>\n
The center\u2019s schedule currently lists some shows for July, August and September, including performances of the musicals \u201cMoulin Rouge,\u201d \u201cMrs. Doubtfire\u201d and \u201cThe Outsiders.\u201d<\/p>\n
Representatives of those shows did not immediately respond to requests for comment.<\/p>\n
(Reporting by Greg Bensinger in San Francisco and Arriana McLymore in New York; Writing by Daniel Trotta; Editing by Sergio Non, \u2060Diane Craft and Chris Reese)<\/p>\n