Thousands protest Kennedy Center closure as Trump legal battle escalates

Thousands of protesters gathered outside the Kennedy Center on Friday evening to oppose Donald Trump's plans for the iconic Washington venue, amid escalating legal disputes over the building's future. The demonstrations, organized by groups including Hands Off the Arts, took place as the marble facade remained obscured by scaffolding and tarpaulins. Protesters carried signs with messages such as "Keep your tiny hands off our Kennedy Center" and "Kennedy Center 4 ever," while some wore costumes and inflatable animal suits to express their concerns that Trump might demolish the institution.

The protest followed a series of legal and administrative developments. US District Judge Christopher Cooper had previously ruled that Trump's name was illegally added to the building and ordered its removal. On Tuesday, the Kennedy Center board—aligned with the president—voted to close the center indefinitely for repairs hours after the judge blocked their attempt to restore Trump's name to the building. On Thursday, the judge ordered the Kennedy Center to provide 30 days' notice before making any major physical changes, including demolition.

The demonstrations were sparked in part by a photograph released Wednesday showing Trump aboard Air Force One holding a placard that appeared to depict the Kennedy Center with text reading "Kennedy Center DEMOLIS..." with the rest obscured. Chris Raleigh, co-founder of Hands Off the Arts, said the gathering aimed to demonstrate public opposition to Trump's plans. Raleigh expressed concern that Trump might proceed with demolition without court notification, citing as precedent the East Wing, where "we got up one morning and there was a giant hole there."

Trump has made the Kennedy Center a focus of his administration's remake of Washington since 2025, when he began installing allies on its governing board. From the Oval Office, Trump stated he was willing to save the center, which he said was losing money. "We have a lot of people working very hard on it to save it," he said, adding that "the Trump administration should be recognized as having saved the Kennedy Center" if it does so. He did not directly address questions about demolition. The dispute remains one of several ongoing legal battles involving Trump's vanity projects in Washington, including plans for a triumphal arch and control of East Potomac Golf Links.