Protesters surround Kennedy Centre over Trump demolition fears
Thousands of people joined outside the John F. Kennedy Centre for the Performing Arts on Friday evening to protest President Donald Trump’s plans for the facility, lending their voices to a chorus of organisations and individuals who have been horrified that he might make good on his threat to close and tear down the storied institution. The crowd streamed in from the nearest subway stop,…
On Friday evening, thousands of individuals congregated outside the historic John F. Kennedy Centre for the Performing Arts, voicing their opposition to President Donald Trump's proposed demolition and closure of the iconic facility. The protest, organized by the collective "Hands Off the Arts," saw participants donning costumes and displaying placards, as they formed a human chain to "Hands Around the Kennedy Centre".
The venue, a prominent landmark along the Potomac River waterfront, has been under scrutiny since 2025 when Trump began amassing supporters on its governing board. A recent ruling by US District Judge Christopher Cooper blocked Trump's attempt to reinstate his name on the building, and another judge subsequently ordered 30 days' notice before any major physical alterations, including demolition.
Concerns were raised about Trump potentially bypassing the court's orders, as seen with the East Wing's sudden collapse. Protesters emphasized the venue's vital role in fostering the nation's performing arts, with a local arts advocate highlighting the importance of preserving the centre to prevent censorship of performances and programming.
Some attendees, like Laura Steinberg, likened their feelings to those of the individual who stood in front of a tank during the Tiananmen Square protests, vowing to stand in front of the proposed demolition machinery if necessary. President Trump, despite acknowledging the centre's financial struggles, expressed his willingness to save it and touted his administration's efforts in other projects, yet remained silent on the matter of demolition.
Written by urgent.news from South China Morning Post's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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