Barbra Streisand Slams Kennedy Center Shutdown and Trump’s ‘Gigantic Ego’

When you’ve spent half a century on Broadway stages, movie sets and recording studios, you develop a sort of sixth sense for when a cultural institution is being mistreated. Barbra Streisand, the iconic diva who’s never been shy about her opinions, told Billboard this week that the recent, albeit brief, closure of the John F. Kennedy Center felt less like a logistical hiccup and more like a deliberate snub.

“It was ridiculous,” Streisand said, pausing for a moment as if replaying the memory in her mind. “They shut the place down for a day and then acted like it was nothing. The truth is, they were scared of the backlash, they were scared of the politics.” She added a small chuckle, the kind that says, “I’ve heard this before.”

According to the singer, the decision to lock the doors wasn’t about renovations or safety—those are standard reasons that come with a press release and a polite apology. No, Streisand believes it was rooted in a larger, more personal power play: the influence of former President Donald Trump.

“Donald has this ego that’s… well, it’s massive,” she said, her voice dropping a notch, as if sharing a secret over a coffee. “He sees himself as the ultimate arbiter of what’s acceptable, what’s ‘American.’ If something—any cultural event—gets a whiff of dissent, he wants it silenced, or at least paused, until his narrative is back in the driver’s seat.”

She went on to note that the Kennedy Center, a venue meant to celebrate the arts regardless of politics, had been caught in a crossfire that stretched far beyond a single day of closure. “It’s not just about a building,” Streisand warned. “It’s about the message that when the highest office can dictate the fate of a cultural landmark, we’re all living in a house of cards.”

Streisand’s critique didn’t stop at the President’s ego. She called out the broader climate of fear that she says has settled over artists and institutions alike. “We’ve gotten used to walking on eggshells, to second‑guessing whether a song, a play, or a performance might be labeled ‘controversial.’ That’s not how America should feel. We’re supposed to celebrate the messiness of art, not police it.”

Her words struck a chord with many in the entertainment community, many of whom have also voiced concerns about a climate that feels increasingly hostile to free expression. Some listeners may recall her 2017 remarks about the #MeToo movement or her outspoken support for LGBTQ+ rights—both times she faced the same sort of backlash she now references.

While Streisand’s comments are undeniably sharp, they also carry a lingering hope. “I still believe in the power of the Kennedy Center,” she added, softening her tone. “If we keep pushing, keep demanding that our institutions remain independent, they’ll survive. They always have, and they’ll keep thriving—ego or no ego.”