Ric Grenell, a close ally of President Donald Trump, is stepping down from his role as the head of Kennedy Center, after a tumultuous year at the iconic performing arts venue.

In a post on Truth Social, Trump announced that Grenell will be replaced by Matt Floca, the centre's vice president of facilities operations.

Grenell oversaw far reaching changes at the centre that was followed by an exodus of artists and plummeting ticket sales.

Trump installed himself as the chairman of the centre in February 2025, and renamed it after himself. The performing arts venue is now preparing to shut down for a two-year renovation.

"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," Trump wrote of Grenell, who has also served as the former ambassador to Germany.

The president said Grenell's successor, Matt Floca "has helped us achieve tremendous progress in bringing the Center to the highest level of Excellence!"

Floca joined the Kennedy Center in January 2024, under the Biden administration, according to his LinkedIn profile. He has a background in facilities and construction management, according to statement from the centre.

Once confirmed by the centre's board of directors, Floca will oversee a massive two-year renovation project that begins in July.

Trump has lambasted the physical state of the centre and has secured more than $250m (£182m) to rebuild it, one of many renovation projects he has taken on in his second term.

"THE TRUMP KENNEDY CENTER will be, at its completion, the finest facility of its kind anywhere in the World!" Trump wrote in the same post announcing the Floca's appointment.

Shortly after taking office in his second term, the president fired several of the board members at the centre and replaced them with allies, who then voted to make Trump chairman of the board.

The new board renamed the institution the Donald J Trump and the John F Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts in December. New signage appeared on the building's exterior the following day.

Trump has also criticised the centre's past programming as too "woke", and under his leadership, a number of musical acts have cancelled their performances there, including the cast of Hamilton, Wicked composer Steven Schwartz and a group called Doug Varone and the Dancers.