Trump Refuses to Rule Out Demolishing Kennedy Center as Naming Fight Keeps Venue Closed

Q: If federal courts block the proposed renovations, could the Kennedy Center be entirely replaced by an outdoor amphitheater?

Yes—if courts ultimately block the renovation plan, the administration’s own court filings say demolition and replacement with an outdoor amphitheater is being considered. But that is only a possibility, not an approved plan, and it could not happen quickly or unilaterally. Justice Department lawyers told the court that if the Kennedy Center cannot proceed with the proposed overhaul, the building could deteriorate to the point that it would have to be taken down, with a later decision on what to build there, including “a large outdoor amphitheater overlooking the Potomac River.” They also acknowledged such a replacement would be simpler and cheaper, while not adequately honoring John F. Kennedy in the same way. Still, several barriers stand in the way. The Kennedy Center was created by Congress as a living memorial to President Kennedy, and a federal judge has repeatedly said that status sharply limits what its board or the executive branch can do without congressional approval. Judge Christopher Cooper has also ordered that the center give at least 30 days’ notice before any demolition or other major physical changes. So the practical answer is that an amphitheater replacement has been floated in court as a fallback scenario, but it is not authorized at this stage. Any attempt to demolish and rebuild would almost certainly trigger further court fights and likely require broader legal approval because of the center’s memorial status.

3 articles · Updated · The Washington Post · Oct 1

Trump said in a Time interview published Thursday that he is not ruling out demolishing the Kennedy Center while a court fight over adding his name to the building continues.
“I’m not committing to anything,” Trump said, adding that the administration would wait to see how the dispute “plays out in court.”
The Kennedy Center closed last month amid that legal battle, turning the naming dispute into a broader threat to the future of the performing arts venue.