President Trump names new head for the Kennedy Center, now called the Trump-Kennedy Center, following its controversial closure for a two-year renovation.

WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump has announced the replacement of the head of the Kennedy Center, the Washington arts venue he renamed after himself.

Richard Grenell, a former ambassador and ally, oversaw major changes at the centre to clear out what Trump called “woke” ideology.

“Ric Grenell has done an excellent job in helping to coordinate various elements of the Center during the transition period,” Trump said on his Truth Social platform.

Grenell will be replaced by Matt Floca, the current vice president of facilities at the centre.

Floca’s official biography states he has a background in construction management and real estate.

The outgoing Grenell also served as a special envoy for Trump on Venezuela.

In that role, Grenell pushed for engagement with then-president Nicolas Maduro before Maduro was captured by US special forces.

Trump has stamped his mark on the centre since the start of his second term.

He installed himself as chairman of a hand-picked board to lead the centre, originally named after president John F. Kennedy.

The board then voted to rename it the “Trump-Kennedy” centre in December.

A host of artists canceled concerts at the venue in response to the renaming.

US media reported that Kennedy Center ticket sales had plummeted to their lowest levels since the Covid pandemic.

Trump announced in February that he was closing the centre for a two-year renovation starting on July 4.

He has denied plans to knock down the centre and posted renderings of the proposed refurbishment on social media.

 The Sun Malaysia