Broadway legend Patti LuPone delivered a passionate call to action Monday night, urging audiences to defend the Kennedy Center from alterations proposed by President Donald Trump. The plea came at the close of her two-hour performance at Carnegie Hall in New York City, according to multiple reports.
LuPone’s impassioned speech centered on Trump’s plans for the Washington, D.C. Landmark, which include a proposed renaming to “The Donald J. Trump and the John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts.” The name change was approved late last year by a board comprised of presidentially appointed members. Trump has also announced a two-year closure for extensive renovations, a move that has sparked concern among artists and cultural advocates.
“This is now about the Kennedy Center. It’s time for us — it’s over time for us! — to rise up and speak,” LuPone emphatically told the Carnegie Hall audience. She urged attendees to “get the information out” that Trump “cannot! cannot! cannot! touch the Kennedy Center!”
The 76-year-old performer, known for her roles in productions like Evita, apologized for the intensity of her message but stressed the vital role of art in American society. “I’m sorry, but I’m so mad,” she reportedly said. “This actually strikes close to home because art is the soul of the nation. And think about it — when was the last time you heard the words ‘art’ and ‘culture’ in a conversation in this country? We have to speak up again. We have to elevate it, and one of the ways we’re going to elevate It’s to keep the buildings standing.”
Trump, speaking to reporters on Monday, defended his plans for the Kennedy Center, stating, “I’m not ripping it down. I’ll be using the steel… So we’re using the structure, we’re using some of the marble, and some of the marble comes down.” The $200 million renovation is slated to begin in July, according to Trump’s announcement on his Truth Social platform.
The proposed renovations and Trump’s involvement have already led to a wave of cancellations by artists scheduled to perform at the Kennedy Center. At least 27 artists, including Philip Glass, the production of Hamilton, and The Washington National Opera, have pulled out of scheduled appearances in protest. This exodus began following Trump’s appointment as chair of the Kennedy Center’s board in February 2025 and the subsequent rebranding of the institution.
Concerns have been raised that the closure is not solely about renovation. Some critics speculate that the move is intended to mask the administration’s difficulties in attracting artists and filling seats at the venue. These concerns echo anxieties surrounding the destruction of the White House’s East Wing to make way for a new ballroom, suggesting a pattern of disregarding established cultural landmarks.
LuPone’s vocal opposition adds to the growing chorus of dissent surrounding Trump’s handling of the Kennedy Center. Her public plea reflects a broader anxiety within the arts community about the future of cultural institutions under the current administration. The situation underscores the increasingly politicized landscape of the performing arts and the willingness of prominent figures like LuPone to use their platform to advocate for the preservation of artistic spaces.
The Kennedy Center, a national cultural landmark, has long been a symbol of American artistic achievement. The current controversy highlights the ongoing tension between political influence and the preservation of cultural heritage, a debate that is likely to continue as Trump’s plans for the center unfold.
