Maria Shriver has commented on President Donald Trump’s decision to temporarily close the Kennedy Center, suggesting the move is linked to a wave of cancelled performances. The centre, established as a memorial to President John F. Kennedy, is set to close for approximately two years for what Trump has described as major renovation and redevelopment works.
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In a statement published on 1 February, Trump said the closure was necessary to allow for construction, revitalisation and a complete rebuilding of the venue, with the aim of creating what he called “the finest performing arts facility in the world”. He argued that suspending entertainment operations was the fastest route to achieving this goal.
Shriver, a niece of John F. Kennedy, publicly questioned that explanation, proposing instead that the decision reflects ongoing withdrawals by artists and performers. Writing on X, she suggested the closure was a response to entertainers cancelling appearances following changes to the centre’s governance and the addition of Trump’s name to the institution.
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Controversy around the Kennedy Center has grown since early 2025, when Trump removed several board members and replaced them with political allies before later being named chairman himself. The board’s decision in December to rename the building after Trump prompted criticism from members of the Kennedy family and led several performers to withdraw in protest, adding to speculation about the reasons behind the centre’s temporary closure.
