Kennedy Center to close for 2 years for renovations in July, Trump says, after performers' backlash

[SouthBayDem]

Source: Associated Press

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.

Read more: https://apnews.com/article/trump-kennedy-center-closing-renovations-c6dba4a46e71b0d0e48d46501195366c

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The previous thread about this story was locked due to linking to a questionable website. For everyone's convenience here is the AP story.

[BlueWaveNeverEnd]

1. Nytime has a long article on this. What's going to happen to employees?

[NoRethugFriends]

4. And what's going to happen to the center itself. Will he ruin it irredeemably

[Figarosmom]

2. He's doing this so people won't find out

He can't find anyone to do a show.

[Beartracks]

5. Yep. Pretending it needs renovation to avoid the embarrassment.

Like the tired, broken, and dilapidated thing that performers would be complaining about was the facility, not the owner.



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[cstanleytech]

6. Ya you can only book Kid Rock so many times before sales tank 😂

[Bengus81]

10. Exactly 100% what this BS renovation is truly about. NO one of any caliber as a performer

will show up to entertain a fucking NAZI.

[Sneederbunk]

3. The talent shut him down.

[Tasmanian Devil]

7. We have a insane toddler taking his ball and going home

The rumors that it needs two years of airing out to remove the stench from the Melania premiere are not true. There wasn't *that* much vomit in the aisles -- two months and a couple hundred gallons of bleach would have done the trick.

He's just pouting that most people don't like him, so he's taking away our nice things. Democracy, freedom, rule of law, our money, our jobs, our lives ... whatever he can grab or destroy. I don't think he likes us much.

[eringer]

8. New ICE Detention Center being Realized

Steven Miller had a vision at the recent movie premier of repurposing the center as an ICE detention center. The only upgrades needed will be prison fences and a guard tower.
Absolute genius. 🤡☠️

[ananda]

9. Rebranding as the Epstein Roller Derby?

...