Washington — Ric Grenell is stepping down as president of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, President Trump announced Friday. Matt Floca will be named CEO and executive director, pending approval from the Kennedy Center’s board of directors.
The move comes as the Kennedy Center prepares for a two-year renovation project set to commence this summer. The planned overhaul has already sparked debate within the arts community, and the change in leadership signals a continued shift in direction for the iconic venue.
“Ric Grenell has done an excellent job in helping to coordinate various elements of the Center during the transition period, and I want to thank him for the outstanding work he has done,” Trump said in a statement on Truth Social. “THE TRUMP KENNEDY CENTER will be, at its completion, the finest facility of its kind anywhere in the World!”
Floca currently serves as the center’s vice president of facilities, and operations. According to CBS News, Trump described Floca as having helped achieve “tremendous progress” in bringing the Center to “the highest level of Excellence!”
Grenell, a former Acting Director of National Intelligence and a staunch ally of the former president, had overseen significant changes at the Kennedy Center since taking the helm. His tenure was marked by efforts to reshape the institution, prompting some artists to distance themselves from the venue, as reported by PBS NewsHour.
Trump also released renderings of the Kennedy Center’s exterior after the planned renovations, estimating the project will cost around $200 million – less than the $250 million previously approved by Congress, according to CBS News. The renovations are slated for completion in 2028.
The Associated Press reported that Grenell’s departure coincides with the Kennedy Center’s upcoming closure for the extensive renovations.
