A surprise Kennedy Center makeover

一场惊喜的肯尼迪艺术中心改造

Post Reports

2026-02-04

18 分钟
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In his second term, President Donald Trump has gone on a mission to reinvent the Kennedy Center, the beloved performing arts venue in Washington, D.C. Trump promised to overhaul the center’s programming. He installed loyalists on the board who made him chairman. In December, Trump’s name joined John F. Kennedy’s on the building’s facade.  This week, Trump announced further plans to close the center for two years as he undertakes a massive renovation. Details of the plan remain murky, but Trump says he intends to overhaul even the building’s marble facade.  Style writer Travis Andrews has been reporting on Trump’s growing involvement with the Kennedy Center. Today, he joins Martine Powers to talk about why the president is so invested in the future of the institution — and why his plans have some people concerned.  Today’s show was produced by Emma Talkoff, Thomas Lu and Rennie Svirnovskiy. It was edited by Reena Flores and mixed by Sam Bair.  Subscribe to The Washington Post here.
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  • In his second term, President Donald Trump has prioritized overhauling the Kennedy Center,

  • the performing arts venue here in Washington, D.C.

  • He criticized the programming, calling it too woke.

  • He swapped out the center's leadership.

  • That board named Trump the Chairman.

  • And then most recently, the institution was renamed to the Trump Kennedy Center,

  • and Trump's name was added to the front of the building.

  • Now, Trump says he is shutting the whole place down for the next two years.

  • He says he is renovating it, and that it will be better than ever when it reopens.

  • But a lot of people are not convinced.

  • From the newsroom of the Washington Post, this is Post Reports.

  • I'm Martine Powers.

  • It's Tuesday, February 3rd.

  • Today, I talk with style reporter Travis Andrews,

  • who's been covering Trump's obsession with the Kennedy Center.

  • We'll talk about what Trump hopes to get out of reinventing this institution and why it might be harder than he thinks.

  • Travis, thank you so much for joining us.

  • Oh, thanks so much for having me.

  • Okay, so explain to me.

  • What exactly are Trump's plans for this Kennedy Center renovation?