WASHINGTON (Diya TV) — Lawyers challenging the Kennedy Center’s closure cited a photo Thursday that appears to show President Donald Trump reviewing a document titled “Kennedy Center DEMOLISHED” as his administration defended the temporary shutdown on safety grounds.
The photo shows Trump aboard Air Force One looking at the document.
Rep. Joyce Beatty, D-Ohio, cited the image in an emergency court filing challenging the closure. Beatty is suing over efforts to add Trump’s name to the Kennedy Center and argues that the shutdown conflicts with an earlier court order.
The Kennedy Center closed most of its main building Wednesday. Executive Director Charles “Matt” Floca told the court that officials ordered a seven-day closure after identifying immediate safety hazards.
Floca said a Sept. 4 storm caused water damage and that a section of plaster later fell about 60 feet from the Grand Foyer ceiling. He said officials needed time to inspect the building and address additional damage.
The short-term closure comes after the Kennedy Center board voted to shut the main building for up to two years for a $257 million renovation.
U.S. District Judge Christopher Cooper ordered the administration to explain whether the closure plan violates his earlier ruling. Cooper previously blocked efforts to add Trump’s name to the building, finding that Congress controls the name of the John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts.
Trump said Wednesday that the center could eventually be “ripped down” if officials cannot complete the planned renovation. Beatty’s lawyers cited those comments along with the photo in their request for an emergency hearing.
The Justice Department told the court that the seven-day shutdown addresses safety concerns and does not violate Cooper’s order. The administration has appealed the ruling in the naming dispute.
The Kennedy Center’s main building remains closed during the safety review.
