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· collected 2026-09-06 · by Brie Stimson
The Kennedy Center's main hallway ceiling partially collapsed during a rainstorm on Saturday, with the center citing decades of neglect and deferred maintenance as the cause. The board, led by President Donald Trump, has been pushing for a 2-year closure for renovations, which would cost $250 million. Grace Terpstra, founder of Keep the KC, believes the collapse will be used to further justify the planned closure, which is currently being contested in court. The center's renovation plans include renaming the institution and grounds after Trump.
Written by the local model on 2026-09-06,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
A portion of the ceiling at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington D.C. collapsed on Friday evening due to heavy rain, prompting officials to temporarily close the grand foyer until repairs can be made. No one was injured in the incident, but it has renewed calls to allow President Donald Trump's proposed renovations of the center, which have been met with resistance by some lawmakers and judges. The collapse is seen as a "warning" that the building needs urgent attention due to decades of deferred maintenance, according to Roma Daravi, the center's vice president for public relations. $250 million in renovations are planned, including repairs to plumbing and electrical systems, new seating and carpeting, and the addition of Trump's name to the building's facade. The center's board, dominated by Trump loyalists and chaired by the president himself, is fighting in court to move forward with the plans.
Written for “Kennedy Center Ceiling Collapse” on 2026-09-07,
grounded in this article and the 5 other(s) covering the same event.
Why this leaning score
The article's own words the score was based on. Each is quoted
verbatim and was checked against the article text before being
stored, so you can find it in the original.
Leaning score -0.35 for article 5443 (high confidence, 1 verified quote) · logged 2026-09-06
The Kennedy Center shared photos on Saturday that showed a partial ceiling collapse that happened during a rainstorm in the main hallway of the over 50-year-old performing arts building.
asserted
that → share → building
Roma Daravi, vice president of public relations for the Kennedy Center, said the collapse underscored the need to close the building for renovations.
asserted
collapse → say → renovations
"Another example of the urgent need to close for renovation and revitalization, as our Chairman President [Donald] Trump has championed," Daravi said in a statement shared with Fox News Digital, adding, "This structural failure stems from decades of neglect and deferred maintenance by the previous leadership, and there’s no justification for further delays in restoring America’s cultural center."
The center’s board, which is led by Trump, voted in August to close the building for two years.
asserted
which → close → years
This came after a judge ruled in May that Trump’s name must come off the building months after the board voted to name it: "The Donald J. Trump and The John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts."
uncertain
board → come → Arts
"Unless I am free to do what I do better than anyone else, bring this Institution back, physically, financially, and artistically, I have no interest in continuing what could only be a hopeless journey into 'NEVER NEVER LAND,'" Trump wrote on Truth Social at the time.
uncertain
Trump → do → time
"Therefore, based on the fact that the Radical Left Democrats care more about opposing your favorite President, ME, than saving a dying Performing Arts Center, almost all of which lose large amounts of money throughout the Country, we are going to be working with Congress to transfer this failing Institution back to them so they can make a determination as to what to do with it."
asserted
they → base → it
Last month, the board voted to rename the institution’s grounds "President Donald J. Trump Plaza" and to put lettering on the building that says "The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts Restored and Renovated by President Donald J. Trump."
The board remains in court fighting to move forward with the name changes, as well as the closure and $250 million in renovations.
asserted
board → vote → renovations
Grace Terpstra, founder of the community group Keep the KC, which is fighting the closure, said she thinks the board will use the collapse "to make the point that the whole thing needs to be shut down, that it’s going to fall on everybody."
asserted
it → keep → everybody
She added, "I think they’ll try to make it into a bigger thing and show that they’ve found a lot of other things."
A tarp and scaffolding has covered the front of the building since the bronze letters that made up Trump’s name were removed in June.
asserted
that → add → June
Last week, the center did remove a piece of modern artwork called "Blue" that has been outside the building since 2019, saying in a statement, "we are honored to have been stewards" of the late sculptor Joel Shapiro's work.
asserted
we → remove → work
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
asserted
Press → contribute → report
