Culture
US judge orders 30-day notice before any Kennedy Center demolition or major changes
September 17, 2026 at 10:26 PM · Updated 28d ago
Coverage
3 reports · over 6 hours
BNBBC News
Judge orders Trump to give 30 days' notice before any 'demolition' at Kennedy Center
(opens the publisher’s site)
AJAl Jazeera English
US judge orders 30-day notice prior to any Kennedy Center physical changes
(opens the publisher’s site)
TGThe Guardian
Judge orders Kennedy Center to give 30 days’ notice before significant physical changes
(opens the publisher’s site)A federal judge has ordered the Kennedy Center to give 30 days' notice before demolition or significant physical changes, after President Donald Trump threatened to tear the building down.
- US District Judge Christopher Cooper ruled Thursday that any major physical changes to the Kennedy Center, including demolition, require 30 days' notice, saying the order would "avoid any confusion."
- The Kennedy Center closed Wednesday for at least seven days; officials cited structural deterioration and a partial ceiling collapse earlier this month.
- Trump said Wednesday that without his administration's renovations "it's going to close. It'll end up being ripped down."
- An AFP photo showed Trump on Air Force One holding a placard appearing to depict the center being demolished; the image was included in Representative Joyce Beatty's court filing.
- Judge Cooper demanded a detailed report on the Kennedy Center's temporary closure for emergency repairs.
- The Kennedy Center's board of trustees voted to close the venue for two years.