Richard Grenell will step down from his post as interim president of the Kennedy Center after a period of transitional turmoil for the institution.
President Donald Trump announced Grenell’s departure on Truth Social, thanking him for his “outstanding work.” He also revealed that Matt Floca, who is currently vice president of facilities operations, will be named COO and executive director, pending board approval.
“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,” wrote Trump of the departure, as first reported by Axios. “THE TRUMP KENNEDY CENTER will be, at its completion, the finest facility of its kind anywhere in the World!”
Grenell was appointed interim director of the Kennedy Center in February 2025 after Trump purged the historic venue’s former leadership and inserted himself as chairman of the board. Following a December vote to rename the venue the Donald J. Trump and the John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts, the institution faced backlash from artists booked to perform, prompting high-profile musicians to cancel their shows in protest.
Last month, Trump said he planned to close the center for two years to undergo a “complete rebuilding.” The Kennedy Center will close on July 4, 2026, “in honor of the 250th Anniversary of our Country,” wrote Trump on Truth Social, “whereupon we will simultaneously begin Construction of the new and spectacular Entertainment Complex.”
Grenell’s exit comes amid more recent departures from the Kennedy Center, including artistic director Kevin Couch, who quit less than two weeks after his hiring was announced. Among artists who canceled performances at the Kennedy Center were Philip Glass, Renée Fleming, Béla Fleck and more. In response to a jazz musician who canceled a Christmas Eve performance in protest of the name change, Grenell threatened to sue him for $1 million in damages.
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