Patti LuPone urges Americans to ‘rise and speak’ as Trump plans to close Kennedy Center

NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK: ‘Broadway’ star Patti LuPone expressed her anger towards 'the buffoon' Donald Trump after the president said that the Kennedy Center in Washington DC will be closed for a two-year renovation.

Trump had shared on Truth Social, “The Trump Kennedy Center will close on July 4th, 2026, in honor of the 250th Anniversary of our Country, whereupon we will simultaneously begin Construction of the new and spectacular Entertainment Complex.”

 Patti LuPone says people 'have to speak up again' against Trump

But LuPone slammed him at her concert at Carnegie Hall in New York City on Monday, February 2. In her closing remarks, she said, “This is now about the Kennedy Center. It’s time for us — it’s over time for us! — to rise up and speak.”

The Tony Award winner, who is also a longtime Trump critic, further noted that she’s 'mad'. “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? And we have to speak up again,” she asked her fans.

Lupone added, “We just have to elevate it, and one of the ways we’re going to elevate it is to keep the building standing. OK? That’s it.”

Trump says closing of the Kennedy Center will produce 'higher quality result'

The ‘Life Goes On’ star’s remarks came after, on February 1, the US leader justified his decision, saying, “if we don’t close, the quality of Construction will not be nearly as good, and the time to completion, because of interruptions with Audiences from the many Events using the Facility, will be much longer. The temporary closure will produce a much faster and higher quality result!”

Kennedy Center President Richard Grenell supported Trump as he wrote on X, “I am grateful for President Trump’s visionary leadership. It [The Kennedy Center] desperately needs this renovation and temporarily closing the Center just makes sense - it will enable us to better invest our resources, think bigger and make the historic renovations more comprehensive.”

JFK Kennedy's family slams Trump

But the Republican leader faced criticism from the Kennedy family. Jack Schlossberg, a grandson of former President Kennedy, said on X, “Trump can take the Kennedy Center for himself. He can change the name, shut the doors, and demolish the building. He can try to kill JFK.”

“But JFK is kept alive by us now rising up to remove Donald Trump, bring him to justice, and restore the freedoms generations fought for,” he asserted.

Former Rep. Joe Kennedy III (D-Mass.), a grandson of Robert F. Kennedy, also joined Schlossberg as he added on X, “While this trespass on the People’s will is painful, President Kennedy would remind us that it is not buildings that define the greatness of a nation. It is the actions of its people and its leaders.”

He also asked people not to be distracted, “What this Administration is actually trying to erase: our connection, our community, and our commitment to the rights of all."

Amid the backlash, Trump said on Monday that he's 'not ripping down' the Kennedy Center.

“I’ll be using the steel. So we’re using the structure,” he added while speaking to reporters in the Oval Office.