Musicians are continuing to use the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts for rehearsals, despite former President Donald Trump's assertions that the venue poses a significant public danger and is in a "virtual state of collapse." Trump had argued that the center was so unsafe that "innocent people" could have been harmed if his appointed board members had not voted to close it, especially after courts blocked his efforts to have the building renamed.
The National Symphony Orchestra has been rehearsing in the main concert hall for upcoming shows that have been relocated to various D.C. area venues. A spokesperson for the Kennedy Center confirmed to The New York Times that the main hall is accessible and safe for rehearsals during the closure period.
Reports indicate that musicians are entering the center through a parking garage, bypassing the main entrance which was previously marked with Trump's name. This move followed legal challenges, including a lawsuit filed by Rep. Joyce Beatty (D-Ohio), an ex officio member of the center's board, who has opposed attempts to close the venue and rebrand it with Trump's name.
Lawyers for Beatty described the situation as a pattern of the government making contradictory statements and actions. One long-time patron of the symphony called the ongoing rehearsals in the context of the closure a "mind-blowing absurdity."
The Trump administration had previously contended in court that the Kennedy Center, a memorial to John F. Kennedy, was unsustainable without presidential support and thus deserved prominent recognition on the building. The administration had also suggested the possibility of demolishing the center to make way for an outdoor amphitheater.
However, musicians familiar with the venue have reportedly stated they have not encountered the structural issues that officials have cited as reasons for concern. In a letter to D.C. lawmakers, former Kennedy Center employees alleged that leadership was aware of the building's structural problems but delayed necessary repairs earlier in the year. A lawyer representing these whistleblowers asserted that these practices support their claims that "the building is not a threat to public health and safety."