A vague note from the owner of President Trump’s MAGAfied performing arts center caught Kennedy Center staff off guard, putting their jobs in jeopardy.
Ric Grenell, the serial internet troll whom Trump appointed to oversee the Kennedy Center’s revamp, told the center’s 2,000 employees in an email (seen by The Washington Post) that jobs would be eliminated as part of the center’s two-year closure.
The email also announced that “a complete renovation of the building will begin in early July,” infuriating an already embattled roster.
“There’s no way to interpret this news as anything other than preparing for massive layoffs and agency contraction,” one staffer told The Washington Post on condition of anonymity.
Trump began renovating the Kennedy Center last February. /Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images
“The language of ‘revolution’ masks a failure of leadership that has led to declining ticket sales, donor confidence and arts participation. This crisis is self-inflicted.”
Indeed, since Trump removed the venue’s board of directors last February and parachuted himself in as chairman, ticket sales have plummeted and artists have declined to perform in groups. Some say the resulting fight led to Trump’s sudden announcement that he would close the building for two years for renovations. Remarkably, insiders told The Swamp that the move even surprised Grenell.
However, the latest move by Trump’s deputy added to the collective headache among staff, who were also blindsided by the news that the venue would be closed for two years.
“There is no strategic plan behind this announcement, just a full closure as progress,” the staff member added. “The so-called renovation is actually demolition.”
“It’s all so stupid and cruel,” another staffer told The Washington Post.
In a note to staff, Grenell framed the worrying developments as necessary to make progress. “During this active construction phase, departments will obviously operate at a much smaller scale, with some units completely reduced or suspended until we begin preparations for reopening in 2028,” he wrote.
“This period will mean permanent or temporary adjustments for most people. We will provide as much clarity and advance notice as possible.”
Officials at the center said they inherited $100 million in debt and that Trump-induced changes made it more financially secure.
Protesters gather in front of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts after President Donald Trump’s name was added to the facade. / The Washington Post / The Washington Post via Getty Im
White House press secretary Carolyn Leavitt told the Wall Street Journal that the president’s “deep engagement” was welcome.
“Isn’t it wonderful to have a president who is so deeply involved in every issue and every detail that his administration tackles — from massive trade deals to negotiating legislation with Congress and even the redevelopment of the Kennedy Center,” she said.
Trump has said the overhaul will cost about $200 million, but a Wall Street Journal analysis shows the true figure is about $100 million higher.
Last March, Trump hosted a board meeting at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. /Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images
The decision to plaster Trump’s name on the front of the iconic venue also angered people, the newspaper reported. The Trump Kennedy Center is the brainchild of Sergio Gor, a Trump confidant and a member of the center’s board of directors. He proposed the idea at a meeting, and initially no one expressed any objection. Privately, however, other trustees were frustrated, The Wall Street Journal reported.
They then voted unanimously in favor of the name change.
The White House and the Kennedy Center have been contacted for comment.