Matt Fluca has been named the new head of the Kennedy Center, according to President Donald Trump, amid rumors that Chairman Rick Grenell will leave his post.
Floca, vice president for operations at the Kennedy Center, takes the helm after Grenell led the institution through a tumultuous past year. The Kennedy Center did not respond to a request for comment. Axios News of Grenell’s departure was first reported.
However, Trump announced the news of Floca’s appointment in a post on Truth Social on Friday. Floca takes on the position as the Kennedy Center prepares to close for a two-year redesign period.
“I am pleased to announce that, upon Board approval, Matt Floca will be appointed Chief Operating Officer and Executive Director of the Trump Kennedy Center. As Vice President of Operations, Matt has helped us make tremendous progress in elevating the Center to the highest level of excellence!” reads the post. “The full rebuilding of the Trump Kennedy Center will begin after the Fourth of July celebration, with a grand reopening scheduled in approximately two years. Rick Grenell has done an excellent job in helping to coordinate the various elements of the Center during the transition, and I want to thank him for the outstanding work he has done. The Trump Kennedy Center, when completed, will be the finest facility of its kind anywhere in the world!” President Donald J. Trump.
Grenell was previously the US ambassador to Germany and also served as acting director of national intelligence during Trump’s first term. He led the foundation as it overhauled its programs and brought in new board members who were aligned with Trump, who also appointed himself chairman.
Under that leadership, the council voted to rename the center the Trump-Kennedy Center and installed signs to that effect. At the same time, artists began to pull their work and appearance from the center amid the changes.
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