Kennedy Center will close for 2 years for renovations in July, Trump says | AP News
By: MICHELLE L. PRICE (AP News)
S E E D E D C O N T E N T
Kennedy Center to close for 2 years for renovations in July, Trump says, after performers' backlash
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump said Sunday he will move to close Washington's Kennedy Center performing arts center for two years starting in July for construction, his latest proposal to upturn the storied venue since returning to the White House.
Trump's announcement on social media follows a wave of cancellations by leading performers, musicians and groups since the president ousted the previous leadership and added his name to the building. Trump made no mention in his post of the recent cancellations.
His proposal, announced days after the premiere of "Melania, " a documentary of the first lady was shown at the center, he said was subject to approval by the board of the Kennedy Center, which has been stocked with his hand-picked allies. Trump himself chairs the center's board of trustees.
"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," Trump wrote in his post.
Neither Trump nor Kennedy Center President Ric Grenell, a Trump ally, have provided evidence to back up their claims about the building being in disrepair, and last October, Trump had pledged the center would remain open during renovations. In Sunday's announcement, Trump said the center will close on July 4th, when he said the construction would begin.
The sudden decision to shutter and reconstruct the Kennedy Center is certain to spark blowback as Trump upturns the popular venue, which began as a national cultural center but Congress renamed as a "living memorial" to President John F. Kennedy in 1964, in the aftermath of the slain president's death. Opened in 1971, it is open year-round as a public showcase for the arts, including the National Symphony Orchestra.
Since Trump returned to the White House, the Kennedy Center is one of many Washington landmarks that he has sought to overhaul in his second term. He demolished the East Wing of the White House and launched a massive $400 million ballroom project, is actively pursuing building a triumphal arch on the other side the Arlington Bridge from the the Lincoln Memorial, and has plans for Washington Dulles International Airport.
Leading performing arts groups have pulled out of appearances, most recently, composer Philip Glass, who announced his decision to withdraw his Symphony No. 15 "Lincoln" because he said the values of the center today are in "direct conflict" with the message of the piece.
Last 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.
The head of artistic programming for the center abruptly left his post last week, less than two weeks after being named to the job.
A spokesperson for the Kennedy Center could not immediately be reached and did not respond to an emailed request for comment.
Late last year, as Trump announced his plan to rename the building — erecting his name on the building's main front ahead of that of Kennedy — he drew sharp opposition from members of Congress, and some Kennedy family members.
Kerry Kennedy, a niece of John F. Kennedy, said in a social post on X at the time that she will remove Trump's name herself with a pickax when his term ends.
Another family member, Maria Shriver, said at the time that it is "beyond comprehension that this sitting president has sought to rename this great memorial dedicated to President Kennedy," her uncle. "It is beyond wild that he would think adding his name in front of President Kennedy's name is acceptable. It is not."
One lawmaker, Rep. Joyce Beatty, the Ohio Democrat and ex-officio trustee, sued in December, arguing that "only Congress has the authority to rename the Kennedy Center."
___
Associated Press writer Darlene Superville contributed to this report.
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So, artists objected to Trump's insistence on riding JFK's coattails by putting his name on the Kennedy Center, and in a fit of pique, he's taking the nation's ball and going home.
all because of his wife's failure make the transition from porn to the big screen ...
So he'll make the Kennedy center over to look like a gold encrusted New Orleans whore house. Sure hope somebody can stop him before he completely ruins it!
Don't worry, she'll go back to porn as soon as her unfaithful turd of a husband goes down in history as the most despicable President in American history. I'm sure that tag line on her 'Over 55 Golddiggers' website will get a lot of dumb shit MAGA traffic as they desperately try to jerk their way back into relevance.
A college friend and I were having a discussion in the FB comments on a WV TV new station's report about her movie. Plenty of people were buying into the bullshit that it was doing great. Meanwhile, here in a bright red part of Virginia, ticket sales were pretty bad, except for yesterday's matinee (cheapest tickets). When I checked, last night's 8:20 show had sold only 3 tickets. My friend checked WV movie theaters, and they were about 1/3 to 1/2 full. In WV, where people love him, for reasons beyond comprehension. One Trump worshipper ended up deleting his comments.
coincidentally, last night I lost 2 friends of over 40 years simply by asking a question on one of their maga "you're one of us or you're one of them" posts. meh, not like I was ever going to drive to bfe illinois to see them again.
Did she? I've heard that thrown around a bit, but have never seen anything to back it up. One of Epstein's yes, but but porn, no.
My cousin lost a friend of 30 years last night over Trump and ICE.
This is a woman who is married to a woman, but opposed same-sex marriage. And she had to audacity to call my cousin a hypocrite.
Right?
Doesn't look like the movie was well received in Slovenia either...
Some drop kick Aussies spent $22,000 to see the movie..they should be deported to the US.. Kiwis spent $4,500 they're just as bad..🤣
it was soft porn shots, of the implied carpet cleaning variety ...
Here, there were reports that there was a Craigslist ad offering people a free ticket and $50 to watch the movie, on the condition they remained in their seats the entire time.
How does that work? I got mine but fuck you?
Geezus!
Don't send them here. We have enough negativity
50 bucks?!?!
That won't pay for my dry cleaning bill after I puke all over myself
Lots of alcohol and self-righteousness, from what I'm told.
Yeah, the photo shoot was all I'd heard of reliably. Face it, selling yourself to Trump is worse than any movie or photo could ever be.
maybe it was too difficult for her to get a lobster dinner in slovenia ...
Or....
So, artists, in a fit of pique, took their ball and went home and then Trump, in a fit of pique, is taking the nation's ball and going home.
Well, there's a difference, Jack. The artists are the ones who should have control over their own performances.
Trump doesn't, or shouldn't, have such unilateral control over the Kennedy Center.
I applaud artists and patrons boycotting the Kennedy Center until Trump is gone. If we do not stand up to tyrants, they will continue to engage in abuse of power. This is truly the least we can do.
Is there a special way of playing jazz drums that Trump has somehow attempted to prohibit? Did he try to tell Ben Folds what he could or couldn't play? No?
How many have boycotted simply because of the name change? How many have boycotted simply because of the board changes?
So let's not pretend they're not taking their ball and going home.
I think that's an interesting discussion. I tend to agree with you on it, but I'm not that familiar with the governance rules.
More both- sidesism from you. What else is new?
[✘]
[✘]
1. What a stupid line of questioning.
2. Did anybody say he had?
Hey, enjoyed this, but given where the thread seems to be going, I'm out. Enjoy your day.
you could always do a meta article...
that would be a first ...
Jesus what a whiney little POS trump is. Can he even spell, "art"?
How we ever managed to elect an overgrown, tantrum-throwing toddler to the White House will forever be beyond my understanding.
Ask those who continue to support him. The answer will be, I predict, fantasy.
They will, of course, agree that the Kennedy Center was falling down. Decrepit. Just on his say-so.
the lawsuit stopping it because of trump failing to follow proper protocol will be filed tomorrow ...
He'll just ignore it and do what he wants, anyway.
TRUMP must be SHUT DOWN for two years, to give us time to IMPEACH him and send him to PRISON FOR LIFE.
Trump is organizing WWIII!
Morning... don't worry we are wondering the same thing too..
How could a country with 320 million get it so wrong..and how, but worse... Do it twice!!! 😣 Wasn't once enough?
I just hope someone is keeping track of all the crap he is doing, so who ever the poor unfortunate is who comes in after him, can undo it all..
Not to mention the cost dollar wise and alliance wise..
I don't think it can be undone. I think we're more or less permanently fucked.
... our international reputation is certainly damaged for the long term.
It is. And who can blame our allies? I wouldn't trust us, either.
Yep dollar wise you mob are screwed..
Alliance wise you can always migrate to my rock and sand bar..🦘
Oh wait, Devangy might be here, nah all good he will gone useful for croc or shark bait..
You would be most welcome Sandy..🐨
Certainly. We cannot just blame Trump because we (the US electorate) have shown that we can elect someone like Trump to the presidency. Even after the traitor showed his abysmal character in spades when he tried to steal the 2020 election with fraud, coercion, lying, and incitement. The only PotUS in our history who has violated his oath in such a grand and obvious manner.
If I were looking at the USA I would conclude that the fact that they could elect this sick fuck once is bad, but then again after all they knew about him, means they are quite capable of electing a truly shit person as PotUS.
A little time down under sounds pretty awesome, so long as I can avoid deadly spiders and drop bears. And snakes. And sharks. And jellyfish.
I'm too lazy to look for the link, but over the weekend, here in Virginia where the whole state is a skating rink after last week's winter storm, a kangaroo escaped and was rounded by police. Just a 'roo, hopping around in the snow, wondering why anybody would bring a kangaroo to a place where snow is a thing. Poor guy.
And Australia would be even more fun with dev there.
Morning tig..mmmhh wouldn't say long term..we are like you mob counting the days down to the Orange one's departure..
Once "it" has departed I think you will find things will return to a more even keel..and there will be a collective sigh around the world..
I know one thing I wouldn't be allowed in the US not that I would go there at the moment..I wouldn't pass the mobile phone scrutiny at the border..🤣
I hope you are right, Shona, because I fear that the trust we established after decades of helping to fund starving kids, supporting our allies, being reasonable trade partners, etc. has been substantially shaken by the Moron in Chief. Given we elected this abysmal human being, I would expect that those in the international community expect we are capable of such a grand fuck-up once again.
Arvo tig..shaken but not stirred..
The rational Western countries are merely marking time and counting the days..
Nothing comes as a surprise anymore..Expect the unexpected...
We just shake our heads and think, you poor buggars and he is your leader...
And quietly breathe a sigh of relief..he is not ours!..
I certainly would like to. I might even learn to like Vegemite
Evening Fishy..you would love it..
Wonder if we sent some Vegemite to Trump if it would kill off his one remaining brain cell... now there's a thought..
I'm not certain he even has 1 functioning brain cell
Over the years Florida's gotten to be a lot like that-- some weird animals.
And then there's the Iguana infestation-- even stranger now that there's a cold wave:
Floridians gather frozen iguanas by armloads as frigid temps leave them paralyzed, dropping from trees
They (the iguanas) were always there. They just hang out in trees out of sight for the most part. When the temperatures dipped they went into a stasis because they are exothermic (cold blooded). They'll be all right once it warms up.
the cold weather in florida temporarily turns invasive species predators into victims ...
... poor trump. nobody wants to buy tickets to watch his wife butcher english with her clothes on, and most of the artists are cancelling on his bff kid suck's proposed concert tour, maga suckapalooza ...
Melania grew up in a Communist community; her father was head of the Communist Party in Slovenia. She was educated in Communist controled schools, and the college that she attended for one year before becoming a PORN STAR for the RUSSIAN MAFIA!
In Europe, the RUSSIAN MAFIA ruled the PORN INDUSTRY, and tried to do the same in the USA!
Melania, or Donald J. Trump, claimed that she graduated from the University with a DEGREE IN ARCHITECTURE.
If anything, she got a "DEGREE IN PORNOGRAPHY".
Trump likes PORN STARS, so he claimed, and helped her get a "GENIUS VISA" because she spoke 6 languages, and was an ARCHITECT!
Heads Up, Folks, SHE IS IN THE EPSTEIN FILES, too.
there is no way she speaks 6 languages. Hell, she's been in this country for almost 30 years and still mangles the English language!
she knew how to say "$200 per hour" in twice that many languages when she came to the US ...
And in an ironic twist, isn't Architecture now not considered a professional career by her hubby?
And when the heck did "Broken English" and "Bad English" become languages
That one has been debunked. When she spoke with the Pope, she appeared not to understand him when he spoke Italian (one of the languages she claims to speak). And when she talked to some French school children, her remarks were limited to things like "bonjour".
Don't tell me they lied? Shocking.
frckn Electrocution Hazzard, have been trap set
I speak four languages....
English
German, (sort of).
Redneck
Hillbilly.
I knew she couldn't speak all those languages. It takes a certain amount of intelligence to learn one language that one doesn't speak natively. I'm a prime example. Six years of French and 2 of Spanish and the only productive thing I can do is order a beer
I can speak the last 2 fluently.
Throw in some Aussie and that would stuff'em completely..
We managed to get rid of a Swedish plant manager at Alcoa because she couldn't understand our language and accent so she has got no hope..😁
I'm learning how to speak Aussie from you. G'day, chunder, gob
Melanoma can speak in tongues
can she tie a cherry stem with her tongue?
Melanoma is more experienced with tiny mushroom stems.
Why did I know I would find you here, again?
great minds ...
And people are saying that she was an Iguana in a past life!
... successfully throwing tantrums for over 75 years.
Sure glad Trump is concentrated on the 'real' problems in our country...
I'm actually looking forward to the super bowl halftime show this year with green day, hopefully playing their anti trump versions of holiday and american idiot ...
"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," Trump wrote in his post.
Neither Trump nor Kennedy Center President Ric Grenell, a Trump ally, have provided evidence to back up their claims about the building being in disrepair,
Lately Trump himself doesn't look well. Interestingly enough, some "experts" have said that Trump himself appears to be tired, broken, and "dilapidated".
(Of course that's just the opinion of several "experts"-- I personally don't know much about it and in fact I am not by any means an "expert" on this subject)
The unnecessary capitalization is unreasonably irritating to me.
Or maybe it's not so unreasonable. Surely somebody who insists that English should be our official language should be proficient in it, right?
ALL aPoligies deeR
But you can't fix STUPID.
There's a quote that was popular for a while-- from The days of Hurricane Katrina:
General Russel L. Honoré , the man who whipped the Hurricane Katrina recovery into shape coined the iconic phrase, "Don't get stuck on stupid." Dec 4, 2024
I luv that guy !!!
Not to mention all that black mold that needs to be remediated.
trump should also be shut down and then remodeled ...
Morning Vangy..can't someone contact the Mafia and get them to hide the evidence in a concrete pour when laying the foundations...
I believe they do an excellent job..
I was looking for that hand picture when I noted the mold. Got interrupted and posted without. So thank you for showing the mold that needs remediation.
Was that cancer or canker?
Or chancre?
LOL Gross....
I had to look it up because even tho I was given Sex Ed in 10th grade I forgot the difference between canker and chancre
... 10th grade, wtf? I remember the girls getting hauled out of class in 6th grade for sex ed. when they came back they looked at the boys like we were all sex offenders. the playground dynamic forever changed after that day ...
yeah...we got that too, in 6th grade
But we actually had a week in Health Class devoted to sex ed. Co-ed, of course
the only thing I remember about 6th grade sex ed was the teacher having to field the embarrassing questions that we had known the answers to since 4th grade and crossed the line of info the teacher was allowed to share ...
that kick-started my quest for reproductive knowledge in junior high resulting in high grades that I converted to earnings when I was then scheduled for a 1st period coed gym class in high school. that class featured all the varsity cheerleaders that were assigned to the class and they were then allowed enough time to hit the body and paint shop prior to finishing the rest of the school day. it was taught by a fat and lazy jock teacher that sent us to the pool every day and then disappeared until the time he was required to reappear and send us to the locker room.
I quickly realized why some of the cheerleaders were periodically sitting out the class in the bleachers and started my first side hustle in high school, selling monthly fertility calendars and condoms to brainless athletes. this was powerful information to have and it also included the benefit of protection from those jocks that were offended by a non-athlete having such intimate details about their spirit bunnies. show disrespect, get bad info ...
alas, that business venture ended soon after my sophomore year when a few pregnancies did occur and it became easier for the cheerleaders to obtain birth control. condom sales kept me in gas money and had a +500% return when bought in bulk and I made sure I purchased them from the local drugstore that had one of the cheerleaders working as a cashier, while looking her in the eyes with a knowing smirk on my face. I switched to selling weed, mushrooms, and hallucinogens during my junior and senior years, to the same previous jock customers. it totally beat the shit out of having a part time job at $1.60 per hour ...
I wish I was that clever in school but I never lifted my head from my books
we were on triple sessions with over crowded classrooms and high school had to be easy enough for the athletes to keep up our 4A metro standing in sports ...
you gotta know that bag of shit carcass would stink thru 10 feet of concrete ...
if I had to be there, I was going to get paid for it ...
People are saying it is . . . Chaucer!
He is going to put gold toilets in all the restrooms. Gold urinals in the men's rooms, too. It will be really nice.
Knowing Trump they will be coin operated.
can't people buy trump urinal cakes online?
If he does it will be Bitcoin
Reedman Auto World, now reedman Toll, in Levittown PA did that in the 70's.
It's actually kind of disturbing.
Coin toilets ..? Used to live 15 minutes from there and have driven peoples cars home after purchasing there, but this wasn't in the 70's
I've seen them. Can't remember where but I was a kid. It cost a dime to use the toilet
It funny how commerce has changed over the decades. Can’t remember the last time I had change in my pockets, and I have no idea if there is change in my car. It used to be a daily routine to sweep yesterday’s quarters into my pocket every morning, while the rest goes in the change bucket and converted to paper money when it’s full. Now everything is credit card and Amazon. Even parking meters are app based now. Who is actually using change anymore?
"here I sit , broken hearted , paid too ........"
if you finished this , your old .
paid to shit but only farted
yes...I am old
I keep change around for playing poker. Sometimes I actually have exact change in the drive-thru because I keeps a small amount of change in my console. It's mostly pennies but I think there may be a nickel or a dime in there, too
yup,
"wasted a dime , but what the hell , everyone can just sit and enjoy the smell."
That isn't the version I have heard... More of a cost benefit analysis occurring....
chaulk it up to regional difference and interpretation.
I always try to keep a quarter in the car for a cart at Aldi's.
is that like a return deposit or for renting the cart?
It's just to make sure you return the cart rather than leaving it in the parking lot. They don't pay anybody to bring carts in from the parking lot, so you have to bring it back to store. When you insert a quarter, the cart unlocks from the chain holding it. To get your quarter back, you have to put it back on the chain. No quarter, no cart.
We got an Aldi's last year but have not been there yet.
I like it, but it's not a one-stop shopping experience. They have great prices on a lot of items, but they don't always have the same things in stock every week. I've only had two of their bakery items, and was not impressed with either. But produce, dairy, frozen foods - all good quality and cheap.
The wife shops at ours all the time. Whatever she can't find there she then goes to the local grocery story.
I don't make it to one very often, because they're not actually in my town. But I do find a lot of good deals when I go.
They have a white cheddar cheese with cranberries that is addictive.
>gag<
the ex used to eat chocolate covered pretzels while drinking beer ...
I would make her an ex, too. I really can't eat anything when I drink beer but my friends and family will consume cake, pie, cookies, candy, all kinds of sweet stuff when drinking beer. Blech!
instant fucking heartburn for me. the mere thought of it makes me nauseous ...
Ok, I wouldn't eat them while drinking beer, but chocolate-covered pretzels have that sweet/salty thing going on, and are awesome.
I love eating bout anything, BEER makes me hungry ?
I do get that sweet salty you mention, as it is a good combo , imho
no comment.
My first reaction is that he cannot stand the embarrassment of what is almost certainly going to be poor attendance while he is in office. Shutting it down eliminates that problem.
Just follow his ego, greed, and vindictiveness and you will likely see the motivation behind anything this abysmal human being does.
I think it's appropriate to anoint Trump with a theme song that truly encapsulates how real Americans feel about him...
Spike Jones - Der Fuehrer's Face
we have a winner !
Poor attendance, and continued cancellations by performers.
I'm sure that's true.
That was my first thought
A Trump connected company will be doing the work no doubt.
... just another thinly veiled money laundering scheme featuring contractors that know trump's kickback requirements.
I didn't know Barron was in construction....
with his childhood background, I figure he's probably either closeted, a pedophile, or a potential serial killer ...
Look at the bright side from Trump's perspective, no other artists can cancel their performances if the joint is closed for renovation.
So how is his big beautiful ballroom coming along? Just a big beautiful hole in the ground with big beautiful blue tarps keeping the rain and snow from ruining what's left of the White House? Trump couldn't be ruining America and our icons more if he was being paid by Putin to do it... Oh...Wait.
trump barely started pouring concrete before the cost of his pedophile palace magically doubled ...
Stop asking for the full release of the Epstein files and get outraged by this. If that doesn’t work then he’ll send some jackhammers into the Lincoln memorial to remove that guy sitting in chair taking up too much space, or begin gold plating the Washington memorial. And the Reflecting Pool would be ideal footprint for a new hotel paid for by the Saudis.
OR...drilling for oil
Where are the NT members who support their unbelievably disgusting hero?
They’re busy running defense for the pedo-in-chief.
trump wants his name all over everything, except the epstein files ...
scared to show their faces
It is Groundhog Day after all…another day, another episode of utter nonsense and buffoonery oozing from the ‘commandeerer-in-chief’.
Indefensible…though too many will cry trying.
it's going to be prairie dogs in the pasture for this old ranch kid, in about 9 months when trump interferes in the midterms, and I'm way ahead of schedule in my preparations ...
The MAGA hit film, Melania was shown to a standing room only crowd at the Donald Trump Kennedy Center. Melania was an instant cult favorite. The adoring members of the MAGA Cult bought out the entire stock of Melampia lamps after the show.
Unfortunately, after the MAGA Cult left the building a horrible stench lingered. That's why the Trump Center was suddenly closed for fumigation.
He’ll tear it down. Bet on it.
he needs the real estate for the next fascist monument to himself ...
I saw an article on Face Book yesterday about some ginormous gold plated statue of Der Fuhrer. The artist hasn't been paid. The statue was supposed to go somewhere but I can't remember where. Maybe the Kennedy Center will be the new home for the Ugly Baby
... I have a suggestion.
don't hold back now
“The statue was supposed to go somewhere but I can't remember where.”
I read somewhere it was to be installed in Florida prior to the upcoming G20 summit…as if his actions haven’t embarrassed us enough on the world stage. Humiliating.
I'm saving any display of my feelings for the most hilarious state funeral in our nation's history ...
I will certainly bet that if he does, it will be the last straw for millions.
How many fucking straws do folks have? To me the last straw was when he got nominated in 2016!
There are still die-hard supporters. One of my patients yesterday is beyond pissed that her grandson doesn't like Trump, and wants to start a Trump account for the baby he and his wife will be having this fall just to get under his skin. She said "that (his dislike for Trump) happened in law school at Richmond, and we'll make that baby a Virginian (they live in California)." It doesn't occur to her that Richmond is in Virginia, and Virginia voted for Harris. Real Virginians, in her eyes, voted for Trump.
So, what are we up against? See meme MAGA are sharing online with no shame.
Not at all shocking. This is what Christians are now. They expect to get to heaven and give maga Jesus a high five. When their judgement goes the other way they’ll just tell Jesus he’s no Christian and will ridicule that snowflake all the way to hell. Of course I don’t believe in any of that hogwash, but I wish religion and god were true just to ensure that the sleaze who weaponize them would get what they deserve in the end.
I wish I knew, Freewill. I still cannot wrap my head around the kind of mindset that cannot recognize that Trump is extremely bad for this nation. The little good he has done is dramatically overshadowed by the weekly damage he inflicts on this nation.
Are so many truly as gullible as their view would suggest? Do they actually still believe what this demagogue tells them? Do they truly believe that he is making the nation better for them (even if they do not care about everyone else)?
Bizarre times.
There are people who realize that the emperor is naked, and say so.
There are people who realize that the emperor is naked, and are either too scared to say so, or benefit from keeping their mouths shut.
And there are people who are asking for the name of the emperor's tailor, and who think everybody else is stupid.
emperor skidmark, king of the impotent magaverse ...
if they don't do exactly what he wants them to, then nobody can have access to it ...