Richard Grenell

Stories

Trump's Kennedy Center overhaul

As of September 2026: Departed as Kennedy Center president in March 2026; remains an unpaid consultant

A federal judge on Sept. 15 again blocked the Kennedy Center's Trump-appointed board from putting the president's name on the building or naming the grounds after him. "Simply put, Defendants cannot install memorials for President Trump or anyone or anything else at the Kennedy Center without Congress's blessing," Judge Christopher Cooper wrote.

Updated Sep 18

Notable Quotes

"Our goal has always been to not only save and permanently preserve the Center, but to make it the finest Arts Institution in the world. It desperately needs this renovation and temporarily closing the Center just makes sense." — X, February 1, 2026

from Trump's Kennedy Center overhaul · Updated Sep 18

"I am grateful to Congress for appropriating an historic $257M to finally address decades of deferred maintenance and repairs." — February 2026

from Trump's Kennedy Center overhaul · Updated Sep 18