Thousands of protesters gathered outside the Kennedy Center in Washington on Friday, calling for an end to plans they fear could lead to the building being demolished.
The crowd assembled in the Foggy Bottom area, where traffic was halted as demonstrators marched towards the centre. Many held placards outside the venue’s marble frontage, partially hidden by scaffolding and tarpaulins. Some booed when Donald Trump was mentioned during the programme.
Protesters Rally at the Kennedy Center
The event, organised as part of the “Hands Around the Kennedy Center” protest, was staged in view of the building’s riverfront facade. Protesters included people in inflatable animal costumes and others in elaborate outfits. Chris Raleigh, co-founder of Hands Off the Arts, said organisers hoped the gathering would demonstrate public willingness to resist the administration’s plans.
Picture courtesy of The Guardian
Raleigh said he and others were concerned the president could act without informing the courts, pointing to what he described as a sudden change at the East Wing.
Demonstrators chanted “hands off!” and carried messages including “Keep your tiny hands off our Kennedy Center”, “You’re no Jack Kennedy” and “Donny you are no JFK!”. Some wore a golden Trump mask and a crown, with a sign reading “Restore my name in gold you sycophants”. Another attendee wore a blue hat that said “Make America intelligent again”. Baby Trump balloons were also visible as the sun set.
Court blocks Name, Board votes to Close
The protests followed weeks of legal and political dispute over the centre. The Kennedy Center, one of the best-known buildings on the Potomac River waterfront, has been a focus of Trump’s efforts to reshape Washington since 2025, when he began appointing supporters to its governing board. Late last year, his name was placed on the centre.
A judge later ruled that the name had been added illegally and ordered it removed. The Kennedy Center board, aligned with the president, voted on Tuesday to close the venue indefinitely for repairs hours after US District Judge Christopher Cooper blocked plans to put Trump’s name back on the building. On Thursday, Cooper ordered the centre to give 30 days’ notice before making major physical changes, including demolition.
Photo of Trump Sparks Further Anger
Friday’s rally also came after attention surged when Trump was photographed apparently inspecting a depiction of the Kennedy Center being demolished. In the image taken by AFP photographer Brendan Smialowski on Wednesday, Trump was seen through the windows of Air Force One holding a placard with red text reading “Kennedy Center DEMOLIS...”. The rest of the word was hidden by the aircraft window frame.
Picture courtesy of The Guardian
The demonstrations coincided with a turbulent week in federal courts in Washington, where filings and counter-filings piled up amid the administration’s moves on multiple projects. Despite ongoing legal challenges, the administration has begun substantive steps on several initiatives, including Trump’s planned triumphal arch, the takeover of East Potomac Golf Links and the US Institute of Peace.
Trump Says He Can “Save” the Centre
Speaking from the Oval Office, Trump said he was willing to save the Kennedy Center, adding that the venue was losing money. He did not answer a question about whether he would demolish it.
“We have a lot of people working very hard on it to save it,” he said. “I can save it easily, but why should we be doing that and then raise money for the rest of our lives to keep it afloat? Because that’s what you have to do, if we get no recognition. I think the Trump administration should be recognized as having saved the Kennedy Center.”
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19 September 2026
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