Trump says Kennedy Center could be demolished — CNBC — CNBC Top News
In the United States, President Donald Trump said that the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington could be closed and later demolished if his administration does not receive recognition for its involvement in the planned repair and reconstruction of the building. CNBC Top News reports this amid a legal dispute over the center’s closure and attempts to place Trump’s name on it.
U.S. House Representative from Ohio Joyce Beatty informed federal Judge Christopher Cooper in a court filing about the president’s remarks and a photograph that circulated on social media. In the image, Trump, aboard Air Force One, is looking at a poster that reportedly bears the words “Kennedy Center DEMOLISHED.” The photo was taken on September 16 after the president arrived at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland.
Motion to the court
Beatty’s lawyers asked the court to separately clarify that the complete demolition of the building or work that would make it inaccessible to the public would violate the existing court injunction. Beatty, who serves on the center’s board of trustees ex officio, also requested an emergency hearing the previous day over what she believes was the unlawful closure of the institution.
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In May, Judge Cooper barred Trump and the board of trustees from taking steps to implement the March 16 decision to close the Kennedy Center for repairs and restoration. On Tuesday, the judge rejected a new attempt by the board of trustees to honor the president by placing his name on the center. After that, the board voted to close the institution for repairs.
Justice Department’s position
The U.S. Department of Justice objected to an emergency hearing. According to its version, the center’s executive director, Matt Floca, decided to temporarily close the institution because of acute public safety risks related to the further deterioration of the structures. The closure is to last seven days unless it is extended during the risk assessment.
Department lawyers said that the existing court injunction does not apply to such a temporary closure. At the same time, Beatty’s representatives called this explanation a pretext for permanently ceasing the center’s operations and insisted that a hearing was necessary to clarify the defendants’ actions. Judge Cooper has not yet ruled on whether to hold a hearing.
