Trump Commerce Secretary Shares Kennedy Center Ceiling Collapse Footage, Calls for ‘Major’ Fundraising

Howard Lutnick, the Secretary of Commerce, shared footage of the Kennedy Center's ceiling collapsing and called for a major fundraising effort to renovate the venue. In a post on X, Lutnick highlighted the unsafe conditions, mentioning that failing roofing, collapsing concrete supports, and rotting steel had created a hazardous environment.

He emphasized that if a performance had been in progress, patrons could have been at risk of injury. Lutnick stated that the entire building is in such a state and should be closed and reconstructed, noting that the Center typically operates at a loss of $80-$100 million annually. He suggested that President Trump was the only one who could deliver the renovation on time and on budget, as well as raise the necessary funds to prevent the Center from going bankrupt.

Lutnick's post was shared by Trump on Truth Social, and the President seemed to support the idea. The Kennedy Center saga has seen Trump appointees propose renaming the venue to "Trump-Kennedy Center," which faced backlash and legal challenges, including a ruling by U.S. District Judge Christopher Cooper that only Congress could rename the center, leading to the removal of Trump's name.