A surprise Kennedy Center makeover

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.

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A surprise Kennedy Center makeover is an episode from Post Reports by The Washington Post.

This episode is 18:40 long.

This episode was published on Feb 3, 2026.

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