“Embarrassing”: Trump suddenly threatens to demolish the Kennedy Center
The Trump administration has significantly increased the rhetoric in the dispute over the renovation of the Kennedy Center – and for the first time openly threatened to demolish the famous cultural center in Washington. In a court document, the Justice Department warns that without a two-year full closure for renovations, the center will continue to deteriorate and ultimately become an “unsafe, dilapidated structure” that must be demolished. The ministry’s lawyers also describe the house as “embarrassing for the capital.”
So far, the management of the Kennedy Center had only talked about a comprehensive technical renovation: replacement of stage lifts, extensive electrical work, sealing against leaks – according to them, all of this could be done in two years if the building remained closed during this time. There has never been any talk of a possible demolition. Now the government even outlines an alternative scenario in the brief: a large open-air amphitheater overlooking the Potomac River, which would be easier and cheaper to build and operate, but according to the president’s own assessment John F Kennedy would “honor less appropriately.”
There have been complaints and criticism from Democrats, musicians and members of the Kennedy family for months. The government is now pointing to Donald Trump’s alleged expertise in real estate and presenting him as particularly qualified for the project. At the same time, the board appointed by Trump is trying to put the president’s name on the facade again – even though a court had banned an earlier renaming. Democratic Rep. Joyce Beatty wants to stop both the full shutdown and the naming plans in court; She accuses the committee of making a hasty decision without sufficient information. On Thursday, a court in Washington is scheduled to continue hearings about the closure and the name dispute – and thus also about the extent to which the threat of demolition can be used as a means of political pressure.
Trump takes over the historic center – revenue collapses
According to a report, the financial situation of the Kennedy Center in Washington has deteriorated significantly after it was taken over by US President Donald Trump and renamed after him. As the Washington Post reports, citing internal documents, ticket sales and donations plummeted after Trump came to power and especially after the name change.
Accordingly, the house had planned income of around $220 million for the current financial year, but now only around $124 million is expected. Despite significant savings, the Kennedy Center is expecting a deficit of around $23 million and will therefore miss its revenue target by almost $100 million, the newspaper quotes internal forecasts. According to the report, experts speak of an exceptionally large decline compared to other major US cultural institutions.
