Kennedy Center's survival depends on Trump, DOJ says in new filing
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A tarp remains in place on the facade of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts on August 25 in Washington, DC. Photo: Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images
The Trump administration argued in a Monday court filing that the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts must undergo proposed renovations and a cash infusion to survive.
Why it matters: It's the latest in the legal battle over the venue's future, which the administration has proposed to overhaul, including potentially adding President Trump's name to the building.
Driving the news: "An order blocking the Board from appropriately recognizing President Trump," the DOJ argued in Monday's filing, "will cause donors to flee, financial contributions to dry up, and structural rehabilitation to stop."
- Without Trump's efforts, the filing reads, "the Center will deteriorate further into an unsafe, decrepit structure that will be required to be taken down."
- The document also suggests that if the venue deteriorated that way, the Kennedy Center could be replaced with "a large outdoor amphitheater overlooking the Potomac River."
- Such a venue has "been proposed, by some, for many years," it continued.
Catch up quick: The filing came in response to Rep. Joyce Beatty's (D-Ohio) request for a federal judge to block the Kennedy Center's board from trying once again to put Trump's name on the building.
- In May, U.S. District Judge Christopher R. Cooper ordered Trump's name removed from the building after its Trump-chaired board, stacked with MAGA allies, voted to rename it "The Donald J. Trump and The John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts."
Yes, but: Earlier this month, the board pushed forward once again with plans to put the president's name on the center.
- Cooper said only Congress could change the center's name — but the DOJ argued in Monday's filing that the updated plan would not rename the center.
- Rather, the board's recent vote approved an inscription under the center's name that would read "renovated and restored by President Donald J. Trump," while the physical site would be renamed the "President Donald J. Trump Plaza."
State of play: Internal documents obtained by Axios' Cuneyt Dil demonstrate the scale of Trump's project, which includes $24.7 million to upgrade the Concert Hall, a "Front of the House Renewal" and plumbing and elevator refurbishments.
- Still, as the administration casts Trump as the Kennedy Center's savior, the Washington Post reported Tuesday that ticket sales and fundraising fell after it adopted on Trump's name.
Editor's note: This story has been updated with additional details throughout.
