Exclusive: Grenell expected to shift out of Kennedy Center leadership on Monday
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New signage appeared at the John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts in December. Photo: Jacquelyn Martin/AP
Ric Grenell plans to transition out of his role as president of the 54-year-old Kennedy Center on Monday, as the nation's premier performing arts venue finalizes plans for a two-year shutdown for renovations, Axios has learned.
- Grenell will be succeeded by Matt Floca, the vice president of facilities operations at the national cultural center, which was renamed the Trump Kennedy Center after a December vote of its board of trustees.
Driving the news: Grenell, who also serves as Trump's envoy for special missions, will still be active in the organization as an unpaid consultant.
- The change is set to be announced at a Trump Kennedy Center Board of Directors meeting at the White House on Monday, which President Trump is expected to attend.
Behind the scenes: Trump has taken a liking to Floca, who previously worked for the D.C. government as associate director for sustainability and energy.
- Trump, who relishes his roots as a New York real estate developer, has been calling Floca to hash out possible changes to the center, including paint color, seating and the addition of marble.
Flashback: Grenell took the helm of the historic campus in February 2025 as part of a Trump-driven shake-up. The president, promising a "golden age" of American arts and culture, wrote on Truth Social: "RIC, WELCOME TO SHOW BUSINESS!"
- Under Grenell's tenure, the organization has undergone a significant overhaul, including the installation of a Trump-aligned board. Trump has taken a special interest in the center, hosting the center's annual honors awards and presiding over FIFA's World Cup draw in the marble-clad building on the banks of the Potomac River.
- Kennedy Center officials say that after having implementing cost-cutting measures — including large-scale layoffs — they're no longer paying staff with debt reserves.
- Grenell held several roles during Trump's first term, including ambassador to Germany and acting director of national intelligence.
Why it matters: Grenell's move comes ahead of a major overhaul to the center. Trump announced last month that the venue will close in July for two years for "Construction, Revitalization, and Complete Rebuilding." He promised a "new and spectacular Entertainment Complex," with a "Grand Reopening that will rival and surpass anything that has taken place with respect to such a Facility before."
- The board is expected to approve the shutdown during its meeting on Monday.
Congress voted to fund $257 million in reconstruction costs in last year's "big, beautiful bill."
- Rep. Joyce Beatty (D-Ohio) — who, like other members of Congress, is an ex officio board member of the center — has sued to stop the closure. Legal analysts say her complaint faces hurdles.
Trump has kicked off a host of projects to leave his mark on the nation's capital, including paving the Rose Garden. He has plans to build a White House ballroom and develop a 250-foot-tall "Independence Arch" near the National Mall.
