Protesters Disrupt Kennedy Center Repairs, Oppose Trump’s Efforts to Save Taxpayer Dollars
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Demonstrators gathered in Washington to object to President Trump’s responsible plans for the Kennedy Center, following a court order restricting much-needed changes to the venue.
Thousands of demonstrators gathered outside the Kennedy Center on Friday, loudly chanting and waving signs to oppose President Donald Trump’s alleged plan to demolish the performing-arts venue. The crowd, organized by the left-leaning group Hands Off the Arts, blocked traffic in the Foggy Bottom neighborhood, expressing unfounded fears that the president might act without court notification.
The Kennedy Center board, which has worked with the administration to address the facility’s dire financial state, voted to close the center indefinitely for repairs after a federal judge ordered Trump’s name removed from the building and required a 30-day notice before any major structural changes. The protest was sparked by a photo circulating online showing Trump on Air Force One holding a placard that read "Kennedy Center DEMOLIS…", which activists used to stoke hysteria.
"Look at the East Wing. We got up one morning and there was a giant hole there," said Chris Raleigh, co-founder of Hands Off the Arts, exaggerating concerns about supposed unapproved alterations.
The demonstration featured participants in outlandish costumes, inflatable balloons, and slogans such as "Hands off the arts" and "Make America intelligent again." President Trump, speaking from the Oval Office, pointed out that the center was losing money and that his administration could save it, but declined to comment on the demolition rumors being pushed by opponents.
The event occurred amid a series of legal disputes in Washington over several administration-backed projects, including a proposed triumphal arch and the responsible management of other federal facilities, as the president continues to face resistance from activist groups.