Thousands surround Kennedy Center in protest as Trump raises possibility of tearing it down
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The demonstration follows the venue’s closure and a federal judge’s order requiring 30 days’ notice before any major physical changes are made to the building.
Thousands of protesters surrounded the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., Friday night, forming a human chain around the landmark performing arts venue amid growing concern over President Donald Trump’s threats to close or potentially demolish the building.
The “Hands Around the Kennedy Center” demonstration drew crowds to the Foggy Bottom neighborhood, where protesters carried signs, sang and eventually linked hands around portions of the building, according to the Associated Press.
The demonstration was organized by Hands Off the Arts, a group opposing recent changes at the Kennedy Center under Trump, who installed himself as chairman last year after removing previous leadership and replacing board members with his own appointees.
“The demonstration opposes the recent sudden closure of the facility, the installation of security fencing, and political efforts to alter or demolish portions of the presidential memorial,” the organization said ahead of the protest, according to ABC News.
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The demonstration came days after the Kennedy Center’s board voted to close the venue for repairs. It also followed renewed comments from Trump suggesting the building could ultimately be torn down.
“For the Trump administration, for me to get involved and to take that on long term and to carry it or to raise money to carry it, I think that the Trump administration should certainly have recognition,” Trump told reporters Wednesday.
“Because frankly, if we don’t do that, it’s going to close. It’ll end up being ripped down,” he continued.
Trump has argued that the Kennedy Center is in poor condition and requires extensive repairs. On Wednesday, he described the building as being in “very, very bad shape” and claimed there were safety concerns, including falling steel and plaster.
The president’s comments came amid an ongoing legal battle over efforts to place his name on the performing arts center, which Congress designated as a memorial to President John F. Kennedy.
Earlier this week, U.S. District Judge Christopher Cooper ruled that Trump’s name could not be added to the Kennedy Center without congressional approval. The Trump-aligned board had previously added his name to the building’s facade before it was removed in June following an earlier court ruling.
On Thursday, Cooper issued another order requiring the Kennedy Center to provide 30 days’ notice before making major physical changes to the building, including demolishing it.
Concerns about the building’s future intensified after Trump was photographed aboard Air Force One examining what appeared to be a rendering of the Kennedy Center labeled “DEMOLISHED.”
When asked Friday whether he planned to tear down the building, Trump declined to say.
The protest also drew performers and arts advocates who argued that the Kennedy Center belongs to the public and should remain dedicated to its original mission as both a performing arts institution and a memorial to Kennedy.
Hands Off the Arts co-founder Mallory Miller, a former Kennedy Center employee, told ABC News that Trump is “not an appropriate leader” for the institution.
“The Kennedy Center can’t be renamed for anyone else. It’s a memorial to John F. Kennedy,” Miller said.
Friday’s demonstration marked the latest public pushback over Trump’s efforts to reshape the Kennedy Center, as questions remain about how long the venue will be closed and what ultimately will happen to the building.