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Trump Sparks Fury With Plans to Tear Down Beloved Sculpture From Kennedy Center
The Daily Beast • • nation
Key Points:
- Donald Trump has ordered the removal of Joel Shapiro’s Blue statue from the Kennedy Center grounds as part of his broader effort to reshape the performing arts venue under his control.
- The National Park Service will close the area around the Kennedy Center to facilitate the statue’s removal, which has drawn criticism for lack of transparency and concerns from former center staff and activist groups.
- Trump’s administration has also challenged the $250 million REACH expansion, funded by former chairman David Rubenstein, and suggested drastic renovations or even demolition of parts of the center, citing structural concerns.
- Activist group Hands Off The Arts condemned the statue’s removal as politically motivated, linking it to Trump’s previous attempts to affix his name to the center and broader efforts to politicize cultural institutions.
- Trump’s takeover of the Kennedy Center is part of a larger pattern of reshaping Washington landmarks, including plans for a White House ballroom, a helipad, and a monument near Arlington Cemetery.
