Protests erupted in Washington on Friday, September 18, 2026, involving demonstrators flying Donald Trump balloons. They gathered in opposition to the potential closure of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.
Many struggle to keep pace with ongoing issues linked to Trump’s presidency. These include demolishing the East Wing of the White House and initiating conflict with Iran. Other concerns are reducing the size of Big Ears National Monument and converting Washington’s Hains Point into a golf course. Additionally, actions such as firing the Librarian of Congress and critiquing the Smithsonian’s focus on slavery are notable. Reports indicate Trump profited $2.2 billion in 2025 through his presidency. Media entities like CNN, MSNBC, and Politico faced expulsion from the White House.
However, a major concern is Trump’s approach to the Kennedy Center. He threats to dismantle it unless his name graces its facade. Comparable to global landmarks, such as the Eiffel Tower in France or the Taj Mahal in India, this act garners disbelief.
The query arises: what merits Trump to name the Kennedy Center? Trump, primarily a New York builder and occasional arts promoter, lacks significant contributions to the arts. Notably, he visited the Kennedy Center rarely. He did not attend the Kennedy Center Honors during several years of his presidency, and the pandemic postponed 2020 ceremonies.
In 2025, following the East Wing’s removal, Trump prioritized the Kennedy Center. He dismissed public board members, appointing loyalists who elected him chairman, and attempted to brand the building with his name. Richard Grenell, assigned director, orchestrated artwork replacements with Trump-approved pieces. Amidst this, the Kennedy Center faltered. The cultural venue faced artist cancellations, donor withdrawals, and dwindling ticket sales, leading to severe financial struggles. Recent events like a magnificent “Porgy and Bess” performance played to a sparse audience.
Despite a court order to remove Trump’s name from the building, interim solutions proved insufficient. A storm inflicted damage, and Trump’s board deemed the center unsafe, ceasing renovations until name change approval. Consequently, Trump opted to halt operations at the Kennedy Center.
The Kennedy Center’s closure would significantly impact Washington residents, depriving them of a prestigious cultural hub. It also signifies a blow to bipartisan cooperation. Originally known as the National Cultural Center, it emerged from efforts by Republican Dwight Eisenhower and Democrat John F. Kennedy, supported by their spouses. Following Kennedy’s assassination, Congress renamed it, preserving his legacy.
George Stevens Jr., co-creator of the Kennedy Center Honors, expresses disappointment: “For over 50 years, the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts has been a bipartisan beacon of grace and beauty in the nation’s capital. The courts decided that the name Trump is unfitting for this memorial to a revered president.”
Bill Press hosts The Bill Press Pod and authored “From the Left: A Life in the Crossfire.”