CBS News
· collected 2026-09-17 · by Jacob Rosen, Aaron Navarro, Caroline Linton
A spokesperson for the Kennedy Center clarified on Wednesday that no demolition is currently taking place, despite President Trump stating earlier that it would be "ripped down." Photos from Air Force One showed Trump viewing a document labeled "Kennedy Center Demolished," which was submitted as evidence in court. Court documents indicate that the center will close temporarily for one week due to safety concerns, though this closure is separate from the board's vote to renovate and may extend based on ongoing assessments of structural integrity.
Written locally by qwen2.5:14b on 2026-09-20,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
On Tuesday, a federal judge ruled that President Trump's name cannot be reinstated on the Kennedy Center without an act of Congress. In response, Trump threatened to halt the planned $257 million renovation if his name isn't added back to the building. The center’s board, controlled by Trump appointees, voted to close the facility immediately for renovations citing safety concerns after a piece of plaster fell from the ceiling during a rainstorm earlier this month. Construction crews began erecting metal fences around the Kennedy Center on Wednesday, with activists worried that the building might be demolished if legal challenges aren't resolved in Trump's favor.
Written for “Trump Kennedy Center Threats” on 2026-10-05,
grounded in this article and the 22 other(s) covering the same event.
A spokesperson for the Kennedy Center said Wednesday that "nothing is being demolished" at the performing arts center, although President Trump said later that it would be "ripped down," and photos showed him looking at a document that said "Kennedy Center Demolished."
In court documents filed Wednesday by Rep. Joyce Beatty, an ex officio board member who sued last year to halt Mr. Trump's changes to the Kennedy Center, a witness said he saw a "forklift run into and hit the pillars" of the building.
asserted
forklift → say → building
The witness said, "I declare under penalty of perjury that the foregoing is true and correct."
asserted
foregoing → say → perjury
Roma Davari, the Kennedy Center's vice president of public relations, told "Real America's Voice" Wednesday night that "nothing is being demolished" and that people should ignore "the media that is saying that because no one has ever said that coming from the institution."
asserted
one → tell → institution
The Justice Department said in court documents Thursday that the duration of the closure will be for one week, "unless extended" to address safety hazards.
asserted
duration → say → hazards
In a declaration submitted by the Justice Department, the center's executive director, Matt Floca, said that "acute risks to public safety resulting from continued structural deterioration ... necessitated a temporary closure of most public spaces in the main building."
asserted
risks → submit → building
In an email to Kennedy Center staff that was also submitted to the court, Floca said that any extensions of the closure would be evaluated on a week-to-week basis.
asserted
extensions → submit → basis
"To be clear, this is not a decision to effectuate the Board's separate vote to close the building for renovation," Floca wrote in the email.
asserted
Floca → effectuate → email
"It is a distinct decision by management to address imminent life-safety risks pending the Court's ruling on that vote.
asserted
It → address → vote
"
On Wednesday, fencing was erected around the Kennedy Center.
asserted
fencing → erect → Center
A federal judge ruled Tuesday that
to the building.
asserted
judge → rule → building
Shortly afterward, the Kennedy Center board, which is filled with allies of Mr. Trump's, , a source said.
asserted
source → fill → Trump
Congress last year appropriated more than $250 million for the restoration.
asserted
Congress → appropriate → restoration
U.S. District Judge Christopher Cooper, who has been overseeing the case, must approve the board's decision, but he has not yet determined whether the vote was lawful.
asserted
vote → oversee → decision
Mr. Trump on Wednesday night reiterated that if he were to raise money for the Kennedy Center's restoration, his administration should be recognized — or its future would be in question.
asserted
future → reiterate → question
"So 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," Mr. Trump said.
asserted
Trump → get → recognition
"Because frankly, if we don't do that, it's going to close.
asserted
it → do → that
It'll end up being ripped down."
asserted
It → end → ?
On Air Force One Wednesday night, Mr. Trump could be seen looking at a document that said "Kennedy Center Demolished" as he was returning from a rally in North Carolina.
uncertain
he → see → Carolina
The photo was entered as evidence in the emergency motion.
asserted
photo → enter → motion
The Kennedy Center, which opened in 1971, is a national cultural center and is the official "living memorial" to President John F. Kennedy.
asserted
which → open → Kennedy
The Aporia
