The Kennedy Center ceiling collapse in the grand foyer Friday evening has reignited demands from leadership to shut the landmark arts venue for extensive renovations. No injuries were reported, according to Roma Daravi, the center’s vice president for public relations.
Photos shared by the center showed a sizable hole in the high ceiling and debris scattered on the red carpet along the hallway that connects the three primary auditoriums. The incident occurred during stormy weather in Washington, D.C. Daravi said in a social media post that the building needs urgent repairs, adding that President Trump supports closing the facility to address long-deferred maintenance.
“There is no legitimate reason to further halt the renovations,” Daravi posted, arguing that delays will worsen infrastructure problems. She later described the partial collapse as further proof of the need to temporarily close for “renovation and revitalization.” In a statement to the Associated Press, she attributed the failure to decades of neglect under prior leadership.
Kennedy Center ceiling collapse fuels ongoing legal fight
The center’s Trump-aligned board is seeking court approval to proceed with a two-year closure for a $250 million overhaul and to add Mr. Trump’s name to the facade. U.S. District Judge Christopher Cooper ruled in May that the addition of Mr. Trump’s name had been done illegally and ordered its removal, while also blocking the temporary shutdown for renovations.
The judge is now considering an August board vote to restore the inscription to read: “The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts Restored and Renovated By President Donald J. Trump.” Justice Department attorneys have argued that contributions for the project could dry up without the inscription.
The push to remake the Kennedy Center comes as the administration advances other high-profile projects in the capital region. The East Wing of the White House has been demolished to make way for a ballroom, and work is slated to begin soon on a triumphal arch near Arlington National Cemetery, with the National Park Service projecting a two to three year timeline and a 20-hour-a-day schedule. A golf course renovation along the Potomac River is also planned.
Those projects have drawn opposition from Democrats, preservation organizations, and a group of veterans who sued over the arch, arguing the administration lacks congressional approval. Separately, the Kennedy Center recently removed a large stick-figure sculpture known as Blue by the late Joel Shapiro. The center did not provide a reason, but said it was honored to have been a steward of the work.
Some critics questioned whether Friday’s damage justifies a full closure. Grace Terpstra, founder of Keep the KC, a community group opposing the shutdown, said she expects the board will use what she believes is limited ceiling damage to argue the entire venue must close and to suggest broader structural concerns.
Justice Department attorneys have taken public positions in the case, similar to their role in other recent federal matters such as when a US journalist was sentenced to two years in federal prison.
