Kennedy Center board approves 2-year closure for renovation / Photo: Mandel NGAN - AFP
-
Golf star Rahm quitting LIV tour over 'unacceptable' terms
-
Trump plans to turn Florida golf course into presidential retreat
-
Thousands march fearing return of a Bolsonaro presidency in Brazil
-
WHO says cannot conduct full risk assessment on Russia plague reports
-
French PM denies police ordered to confront student protesters
-
After botched execution, US woman is awake and shackled to bed
-
Rubio touts US power, calls on Europe to emerge from 'slumber'
-
New Zealand fly-half Mo'unga ruled out of Australia Tests
-
Trump says 'we don't think' Russian plague is bio-weapon
-
Protests in major Turkish city after mayor defects to Erdogan party
-
Five children among 26 killed in Ukraine after Russian strikes
-
Climate change strips island's title of largest penguin colony: study
-
Man City should 'accept' punishment for rule breaches, says Lineker
-
Rubio says West must choose between national power or decline
-
US woman who survived botched execution is awake and speaking
-
Russia's plague scare: What we know
-
From 1800s to modern pharma: a Nobel-winning chemistry quest
-
French luxury giant to fund redevelopment of two Paris streets: city hall
-
Southampton boss Eckert given suspended ban over 'Spygate'
-
Trump wants to turn Florida golf course into presidential retreat
-
Russia warns of 'false' information as second plague case reported
-
Mayor of Turkish opposition stronghold defects to Erdogan party
-
IEA ready to release more oil reserves if necessary
-
Children among heavy casualties in Ukraine after Russian strikes
-
HSBC 'consults' over UK unit job cuts amid AI adoption
-
Court orders German ex-spy chief kept in jail after spying, treason arrest
-
UK court quashes five ex-traders' Libor rate rigging convictions
-
Guinea caps bottled water prices after sachets banned
-
XM Receives “Global Customer Experience Leader Award 2026” at the TrustFinance Performance Awards
-
Spared, married, hanged: the last weeks of Iranian protester Alireza Sepahi
-
Stocks slide as oil climbs on Mideast flareup
-
Nobel physics winner's pride at pioneering AI role
-
Heavy casualties in Ukraine after Russian strikes
-
IMF preparing El Nino assistance, concerned about AI bubble burst: chief to AFP
-
French wine harvest set to hit historic low
-
West must embrace 'national power' or face decline: Rubio
-
Kyiv 'cannot agree' to EU membership limiting food exports: minister
-
Shell refining margins reach record highs as wars hit supply
-
Arteta targets more Arsenal glory after signing new deal until 2030
-
Former Spain, Barca winger Pedro retires from football
-
Russell hit with Singapore grid penalty for taking new power unit
-
Arteta signs new Arsenal deal until 2030
-
Spotify expands audiobooks to more than 180 markets
-
Stocks decline as oil climbs on Mideast flareup
-
French-Japanese duo wins chemistry Nobel for solving molecular 'mystery'
-
Gauff says online abuse was 'draining' after China Open exit
-
England's Nations League surge helps heal World Cup wounds
-
As sector struggles, Porsche puts luxury ahead of volume
-
Mayor of opposition stronghold Izmir defects to Erdogan party
-
'It's personal': Fiji minister pushes better climate finance at pre-COP
Kennedy Center board approves 2-year closure for renovation
The Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington will close for two years for refurbishment, its board unanimously approved Monday, after President Donald Trump's takeover of the storied venue generated anger and performance cancellations.
The board, consisting of allies hand-picked by Trump, also approved the appointment of Matt Floca as president of the Kennedy Center, to replace former head Richard Grenell.
Trump announced last month the closure of the Kennedy Center for renovations starting July 4, "whereupon we will simultaneously begin Construction of the new and spectacular Entertainment Complex," he wrote on his Truth Social platform.
Trump has stamped his mark on the Kennedy Center since the start of his second term, part of an assault on US cultural institutions that his administration has accused of being too left-wing.
The 79-year-old installed himself as chairman of the board for the center, originally named after president John F. Kennedy, who was assassinated in 1963.
Then in December the board voted to rename it the "Trump-Kennedy" center.
A cascade of artists canceled performances at the venue in response to the move, and US media reported that ticket sales at the Kennedy Center had fallen to their lowest level since the Covid pandemic.
Trump has denied that he plans to bulldoze the center, and posted two renderings on social media last week of what it would look like when refurbished.
Q.Najjar--SF-PST
