Thousands gathered outside the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts on Friday evening to demonstrate against President Donald Trump's proposal to close and demolish the facility. The crowd moved from the nearby Metro station into the Foggy Bottom neighborhood, blocking streets and forming a human chain around the building while holding signs that read "Hands Around the Kennedy Center."

Chris Raleigh, co‑founder of the advocacy group Hands Off the Arts, said the protest was intended to signal that many people would resist any attempt to shut down the center. The Kennedy Center, a prominent riverfront structure, has been a focal point of Trump's redevelopment plans since 2025, when he began appointing allies to its governing board. In late 2025 his name was added to the building, a change a federal judge later ordered removed after ruling it had been placed illegally.

On Tuesday the board, aligned with the president, voted to close the center indefinitely for repairs shortly after U.S. District Judge Christopher Cooper blocked the board's effort to restore Trump's name to the venue. The same judge had issued an order on Thursday requiring the center to give 30 days' notice before undertaking any major physical changes, including demolition. Raleigh warned that the administration might proceed without such notice, citing recent work on the East Wing that had left a large hole overnight.

Protesters emphasized the cultural significance of the venue. Bud Wilkinson, a local arts supporter, set up a chalkboard bearing Trump's name that was repeatedly erased and replaced with hearts by participants. "The Kennedy Center is vital to the arts in Washington," Wilkinson said, adding that the dispute extends beyond a name change to concerns about censorship of performances and programming.

Alina Baciu, whose daughter attends the Duke Ellington School of the Arts, described how students have benefited from borrowing costumes and staging shows at the center, including performances on its Millennium Stage. She said those opportunities have disappeared because of the current controversy, which she described as deeply painful for the community.

Laura Steinberg, a volunteer with a decade of service, compared the crowd's resolve to images from Tiananmen Square, saying many would stand in front of a wrecking ball if necessary. She referenced the earlier demolition of the East Wing as evidence that the administration might act without warning, which she said has galvanized public opposition.

The protest follows a series of legal filings in federal courts in Washington, where the administration continues to pursue several projects, including a triumphal arch, the takeover of the East Potomac Golf Links, and the U.S. Institute of Peace, despite ongoing litigation. In a separate statement from the Oval Office, Trump said he was willing to preserve the center, which he claimed was losing money, but he did not address the question of demolition. He asserted that his administration could save the venue easily and suggested it should receive recognition for doing so.

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