Trump warns Kennedy Center could face closure without recognition

President Donald Trump stated on Wednesday that the Kennedy Center could potentially 'close' or be 'ripped down' if his administration does not receive recognition regarding the performing arts center. He made these comments while speaking to reporters on the tarmac in North Carolina. Trump expressed that the Trump administration should receive acknowledgment, asserting, 'if we don't do that, it's going to close. It'll end up being ripped down.' He claimed that the Kennedy Center was in disarray without his intervention and has incurred significant financial losses, stating it has lost '10s of millions of dollars, even hundreds of millions of dollars,' and compared it to Carnegie Hall in New York. These remarks followed a federal judge's ruling on Tuesday that blocked the Kennedy Center's board from adding a tribute to Trump on the building or its site. In response, Trump indicated he would not allocate congressionally approved funding for the center's renovation unless his name is included. Last year, Congress allocated $257 million for the renovation. Shortly after the judge's ruling, the board, which is comprised of Trump appointees, voted to close the center for renovations, citing safety concerns after a piece of plaster fell from the ceiling during a recent heavy rainstorm. On Tuesday, Rep. Joyce Beatty, D-Ohio, commented that Trump 'threw a tantrum because he lost in court' regarding the Kennedy Center meeting. She noted that there was a 'heated debate' during the meeting and described Trump's behavior as explicit. On Wednesday, fencing was observed being installed around the main entrance of the building.