All posts tagged: Ric

Trump Confirms New Leadership at Kennedy Center, Ric Grenell Leaves

Trump Confirms New Leadership at Kennedy Center, Ric Grenell Leaves

Published by Daniella Wilson

Matt Floca has been named new head of the Kennedy Center, according to President Donald Trump, amid rumblings that president Ric Grenell would be leaving his post.  Floca, the vp of operations at the Kennedy Center, takes over leadership after Grenell has led the institution through its turbulent past year. The Kennedy Center did not respond to a request for comment. Axios first reported the news of Grenell’s departure. However, Trump announced the news of Floca’s appointment in a post on Truth Social on Friday. Floca takes over the post as the Kennedy Center prepares to be closed for a two-year remodeling period.  “I am pleased to announce that Matt Floca, subject to the approval of the Board of Directors, will be named the Chief Operating Officer and Executive Director, of THE TRUMP KENNEDY CENTER where, as Vice President of Operations, Matt has helped us achieve tremendous progress in bringing the Center to the highest level of Excellence!” the post reads. “A Complete Reconstruction of THE TRUMP KENNEDY CENTER will begin after the July 4th Celebration, …

Ric Grenell departs as Kennedy Center president : NPR

Ric Grenell departs as Kennedy Center president : NPR

Published by Sam Flores

Richard Grenell attends the world premiere of Amazon MGM Studios’ Melania at the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC, on January 29, 2026. ALEX WROBLEWSKI/AFP via Getty Images/AFP hide caption toggle caption ALEX WROBLEWSKI/AFP via Getty Images/AFP President Trump announced Friday afternoon on his Truth Social platform that Richard Grenell, the former U.S. ambassador to Germany, is leaving his position at the head of the Kennedy Center before it closes for scheduled renovations in July. Trump,, who has been chairman of the Kennedy Center since Feb. 2025, said that he is promoting Matt Floca, the center’s current vice president of operations, to chief operating officer and executive director. Grenell’s departure comes about three months before the Kennedy Center is set to close for renovations, which President Trump has said would take two years. As NPR reported last month, the renovations as detailed in an internal memo include some facility repairs and cosmetic changes, including to public spaces that were just renovated two years ago. In his Truth Social posting Friday, the president repeated his claim that …