Kennedy Center renews call for Trump-backed shutdown after part of a ceiling collapses

A section of the ceiling crumbled inside the main hallway of the Kennedy Center, according to the center’s spokesperson. The damage, caused by stormy weather in Washington, highlights the necessity for renovations sought by President Donald Trump. The Kennedy Center's vice president for public relations, Roma Daravi, stated that the incident underscores the urgent need to shut down the historic venue for restoration as advocated by Trump.

Photos showed a significant hole in the high ceiling and debris scattered across the red carpet in the hallway linking the center's three primary performance auditoriums. The collapse occurred during inclement weather in Washington. The Trump-aligned board of the Kennedy Center is contesting in court to proceed with plans to incorporate Trump's name into the building’s facade and to halt the center for two years while it undergoes a $250 million renovation.

Daravi described Friday's partial ceiling collapse as "another example of the urgent need to close for renovation and revitalization," emphasizing that neglect and deferred maintenance under prior leadership have no justification for further delays in restoring America's cultural center.