The Kennedy Center announced Saturday that a section of its main hallway ceiling partially collapsed during a rainstorm. The center shared photos of the damage, which officials said highlights the urgent need for renovations.
Roma Daravi, vice president of public relations for the Kennedy Center, attributed the failure to decades of neglect and deferred maintenance. In a statement shared with Fox News Digital, Daravi said the collapse underscores the necessity of closing the building for revitalization, a move championed by the Trump-led board.
The center’s board, led by former President Donald Trump, voted in August to close the institution for two years. The decision followed a court ruling in May requiring the removal of Trump’s name from the center, which had been previously renamed “The Donald J. Trump and The John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts.”
Trump has publicly expressed frustration over the delays, stating on Truth Social that he plans to work with Congress to transfer control of the center, which he describes as a failing institution. The board is also fighting in court to proceed with name changes, including renaming the grounds “President Donald J. Trump Plaza” and adding new lettering to the building.
Community groups opposing the closure, such as Keep the KC founder Grace Terpstra, suggested the collapse might be used to justify shutting down the center entirely. Since June, a tarp and scaffolding have covered the front of the building, and last week, officials removed a modern artwork called “Blue” by Joel Shapiro, citing stewardship of the piece.
Jon Ross Myers is the executive editor and publisher of the Mississippi News Network, Mississippi's largest digital only media company. He can be reached at editor@tippahnews.com
