Trump's threat to demolish Kennedy Center 'delusional,' opponents say

Key Points:

• Opponents of reinstating President Donald Trump’s name on the Kennedy Center have called his threat to demolish the building "delusional," ahead of a federal court hearing on the venue's future.
• U.S. District Judge Christopher Cooper previously ordered the removal of Trump’s name from the center’s façade, citing a 1964 statute, and temporarily blocked the venue’s closure for renovations due to the board’s hasty decision.
• The Kennedy Center board, mostly composed of Trump allies, approved a plan to close the center for two years for renovations estimated at $280 million, renaming the building to include Trump’s name and proposing naming the grounds "President Donald J. Trump Plaza."
• The Justice Department warned that without approval of Trump’s fundraising and recognition, the deteriorating center might be demolished and replaced with an open-air amphitheater overlooking the Potomac River.
• Lawyers for Rep. Joyce Beatty filed an emergency request to block the closure and name reinstatement, describing the plan as an "intolerable" assault on the rule of law and warning it would undermine public trust in the justice system.