CNN Anchor Shreds Trump’s Kennedy Center Teardown Excuse:
The president has decided to close the performing arts hub for two years of “revitalization.”
thedailybeast.com/cnn-anchor-jake-tapper-shreds-trumps-kennedy-center-teardown-excuse/
Photo: thedailybeast.com · view article
Kennedy Center Closing Spurs Artist ExodusTicket sales at the Kennedy Center hit pandemic-era lows in October 2025, preceding a two-year closure announcement.
Key FactsFeb 3, 2026 · Reading time: ~45 sec.
Summary created with AI assistance · Source: thedailybeast.com
Summary created with AI assistance · Source: thedailybeast.com
- President Trump plans a two-year closure of the Kennedy Center for extensive renovations and rebranding.
- CNN anchor Jake Tapper argues the shutdown stems from declining attendance and artist cancellations.
- Prominent performers like Philip Glass and the Washington National Opera have withdrawn from scheduled events.
- Trump replaced the board with loyalists and assumed the chairmanship amid controversy over the center’s direction.
Whatever spin the White House wants to put on this, a lot of artists and a lot of would-be performing arts goers have voted with their feet, and the voting for the president was not positive.— Jake Tapper commented on the reasons behind Trump's closure of the Kennedy Center.
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performing arts center in Washington, D.C., United States
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