Trump Kennedy Center’s new leader revealed as Ric Grenell exits top role

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Ric Grenell’ssuccessor as the president of the Trump Kennedy Center was revealed Friday afternoon after President Donald Trump took to Truth Social to make the announcement.

The change will officially be announced Monday when the Trump Kennedy Center’s board meets to officially suspend its activities and launch construction efforts.

Grenell, who has a background in foreign policy and assumed control of the center in February 2025 in addition to his special envoy role, is being replaced by Matt Floca, the Trump Kennedy Center’s vice president of facilities operations.

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Richard Grenell and President Donald Trump side by side

President Donald Trump speaks to the media alongside Richard Grenell, president of the Kennedy Center Board of Trustees, during a guided tour of the John F.Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts before leading a board meeting March 17, 2025, in Washington, D.C.(Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

A source familiar with Grenell’s thinking said the transition was a result of the construction-focused shift for the organization and consistent with plans PresidentDonald Trumpoutlined in posts to social media at the beginning of February.

“I have determined that the fastest way to bring the Trump Kennedy Center to the highest level of success, beauty and grandeur is to cease entertainment operations for an approximately two-year period of time,” Trump saidin a post to Truth Sociallast month.

The source added that the change in the Trump Kennedy Center’s leadership is reflective of the organization’s focus for the time being.

President Donald Trump stands in the presidential box as he tours the John F.Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C., March 17, 2025.(Jim Watson/AFP/Getty Images)

“I mean, the whole thing is turning into a construction zone,” the source said.“It’s going to be a construction zone, and [Ric is] not a construction guy.”

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Trump also highlighted Floca’s new appointment online.

“As Vice President of Operations, Matt has helped us achieve tremendous progress in bringing the Center to the highest level of Excellence!A Complete Reconstruction of THE TRUMP KENNEDY CENTER will begin after the July 4th Celebration,”Trump wrote.

He went on to praise Grenell’s performance in the executive role, saying, “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.”