Jack Schlossberg, the grandson of former President John F. Kennedy (JFK), has given a rebuke following President Donald Trump’s announcement that the Kennedy Center will shut down for a “complete rebuilding.”
Jack Schlossberg comments on Kennedy Center shutting down
Taking to X (formerly Twitter) on February 1, Jack Schlossberg directly addressed Donald Trump’s plans for the performing arts center dedicated to his grandfather’s memory. “Trump can take the Kennedy Center for himself. He can change the name, shut the doors, and demolish the building. He can try to kill JFK.”
JFK’s grandson continued with a call to action, adding, “But JFK is kept alive by us now rising up to remove Donald Trump, bring him to justice, and restore the freedoms generations fought for.” Schlossberg’s post came hours after Trump announced on Truth Social that “The Donald J. Trump and the John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts” will close on July 4, 2026, for approximately two years.
Trump stated a year-long review by experts led him to determine that a temporary closure for “Construction, Revitalization, and Complete Rebuilding” would create “the finest Performing Arts Facility of its kind, anywhere in the World.” He called the current center “tired, broken, and dilapidated” and promised a “World Class Bastion of Arts, Music, and Entertainment.”
This is not Schlossberg’s first public dispute over the venue. Following a contentious board vote in December 2025 that added Donald Trump’s name to the center, Jack Schlossberg claimed the process was flawed. “Microphones were muted and the board meeting and vote NOT unanimous,” he wrote on X at the time. His claim aligned with allegations from Ohio Rep. Joyce Beatty, an ex officio board member, who said she was muted and not allowed to voice opposition during the vote.
Trump retook control of the Kennedy Center in early 2025 by appointing loyalists to its board and becoming its chairman. The institution has since faced operational challenges, with numerous artists canceling appearances in protest.
