Washington's Kennedy Center on the brink of bankruptcy according to the Washington Post

The leaders of the Kennedy Center in Washington believe that the famous institution, controlled by people close to Donald Trump, is on the verge of bankruptcy, according to an article in the Washington Post, published Sunday September 13. According to documents obtained by the American newspaper, the board of directors of the Kennedy Center must vote on Tuesday on a possible closure of the main building of this center dedicated to the performing arts, due to financial difficulties and necessary renovation work.

Center officials warn that they “may no longer be able to pay salaries or honor routine maintenance contracts,” reports the Washington Post. The board of directors had already voted in March to close for two years for renovation. Donald Trump, who at the start of his second term placed his close friends at the head of the board of directors of the institution, in December added his name to that of his distant Democratic predecessor to rename it the "Trump Kennedy Center". But the change was blocked by the courts.

The board of directors argues in a file consulted by the Washington Post that publicly supporting Donald Trump within the center could make it possible to obtain funding and ensure the sustainability of the establishment. “The administrators will have to choose from ten texts which could be affixed to the facade of the building, under its name”, in order to thank the American president for this renovation, reports the newspaper.

Many artists canceled their concerts in this venue after it was taken over by Donald Trump. According to US media, Kennedy Center ticket sales have fallen to their lowest level since the Covid-19 pandemic. Asked by AFP, the center refused to comment, inviting reference to the statements of spokesperson Roma Daravi on September 4, who denounced "decades of neglect and postponement of work by the previous management".