Instead of waiting until Trump sends in bulldozers, a federal judge has ordered the Kennedy Center to provide at least 30 days’ notice before making any ‘major physical changes to the iconic Kennedy Center, including demolition, after President Donald Trump publicly raised the possibility that the building could ultimately be “ripped down.”
The ruling came after Trump was photographed aboard Air Force One examining a large printout that appeared to contain the words “Kennedy Center DEMOLISHED” alongside an image depicting demolition.
Air Force One with Trump pictured.
Trump had also told reporters Wednesday that the administration deserved recognition for its efforts involving the aging arts center and warned that without those efforts, “it’s going to close. It’ll end up being ripped down.”
(Trump has made it clear that the only way the Kennedy Center will be saved is if they add his name to the institution.)
The Kennedy Center, whose board answers to Trump, was temporarily closed this week after Executive Director Matt Floca cited what he described as “acute risks to public safety” caused by continuing structural deterioration. Officials said the closure was initially expected to last seven days and would be reassessed weekly.
The dispute is part of a broader legal battle over Trump’s changes to the Kennedy Center. Trump became chairman of its board last year, and his allies on the board voted to rename the institution the “Trump-Kennedy Center.” Judge Cooper previously ruled that Trump’s name could not be added to the building’s facade without congressional authorization, and an appeals court later declined to pause that ruling.
Congress has appropriated $257 million for renovations to the aging facility. Trump has said the renovation plans should not proceed unless his name is restored to the building, while Kennedy Center officials have cited serious structural problems that require attention.
These claims could not be substantiated since the Center is now closed and cordoned off.