Kennedy Center says “nothing is being demolished” as Trump says it could be “ripped down”

September 17, 2026 / 11:06 AM EDT / CBS News

A spokesperson for the Kennedy Center said Wednesday that "nothing is being demolished" at the performing arts center, although President Trump said later that it would be "ripped down," and photos showed him looking at a document that said "Kennedy Center Demolished."

In court documents filed Wednesday by Rep. Joyce Beatty, an ex officio board member who sued last year to halt Mr. Trump's changes to the Kennedy Center, a witness said he saw a "forklift run into and hit the pillars" of the building. The witness said, "I declare under penalty of perjury that the foregoing is true and correct."

Roma Davari, the Kennedy Center's vice president of public relations, told "Real America's Voice" Wednesday night that "nothing is being demolished" and that people should ignore "the media that is saying that because no one has ever said that coming from the institution."

The Justice Department said in court documents Thursday that the duration of the closure will be for one week, "unless extended" to address safety hazards.

In a declaration submitted by the Justice Department, the center's executive director, Matt Floca, said that "acute risks to public safety…

Original source: https://www.cbsnews.com/entertainment/