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Judge orders Kennedy Center to give 30 days’ notice before major physical changes
The Guardian • • general
Key Points:
- A federal judge ordered the Trump administration to provide at least 30 days' notice before demolishing the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, following President Trump's warning that the building could be "ripped down."
- The Kennedy Center closed temporarily due to serious structural deterioration, with plans for a $257 million renovation that could last up to two years; this closure has been challenged by Democratic congresswoman Joyce Beatty and others.
- Judge Christopher Cooper ruled that Trump's name cannot be added to the center's exterior without congressional approval, rejecting the board's proposal to rename the building and plaza after the president.
- Trump has criticized the center's condition, claiming it is in "very dangerous shape," while opponents accuse his administration of trying to circumvent court orders and use the closure for personal branding.
- The controversy has drawn criticism from political leaders and artists, including Barbra Streisand, who called the dispute over Trump's name on the center "galling and painful to witness."
