Trump plans to shut down Kennedy Centre for 2 years for renovations

US President Donald Trump said ‍on Sunday he planned to close the John F. Kennedy Memorial Centre for the Performing Arts for two years for reconstruction starting in July.

The national arts and entertainment centre in Washington has been marked by turmoil in recent months following Trump’s appointment of himself as chairman, his push to change the organisation’s focus, plans for reconstruction, ⁠and the board’s addition of his name to the institution.

Under Trump’s plan, the centre would close on July 4, the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.

“I have determined that the fastest way to bring The Trump Kennedy Center to the highest level of Success, Beauty, and Grandeur, is to cease Entertainment Operations for an approximately two year period of time, with a scheduled Grand Reopening that will rival and surpass ‍anything that has taken place with respect to such a Facility before,” Trump wrote on the social media platform Truth Social.

Trump’s announcement came days after the premiere of Melania, a documentary of the US first lady was shown at the centre.