Trump threatens to demolish Kennedy Center if $250m renovation not done

The John F Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington DC could be demolished if necessary repairs are not made, according to a court filing by the Trump administration. Lawyers representing the president argued that without the $250m renovation, the arts complex would deteriorate into an unsafe and decrepit structure that would require demolition, potentially opening the site to a large outdoor amphitheater.

The warning came as Trump continues his destructive path across Washington, having already demolished the East Wing of the White House to create a $600m ballroom and renovated the Lincoln Memorial reflecting pool, leading to algae blooms and peeling liner. The administration urged a federal judge to reject a new legal challenge to Trump’s efforts to rename the Kennedy Center, which is currently under the control of Trump appointees.

The center has faced criticism for its recent decisions, including renaming the complex and placing Trump's name on its facade, as well as culling staff and restricting "woke" programming. This move threatens to desecrate the memorial created by Congress in honor of the 35th US president, who was assassinated in 1963. The Kennedy Center, established in 1971, has hosted numerous renowned artists and continues to be a significant cultural institution in the nation's capital.