Kennedy Center renews call for Trump-backed shutdown after part of a ceiling collapses

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Kennedy Center renews call for Trump-backed shutdown after part of a ceiling collapses

2026-09-06 01:54 Last Updated At：02:00

WASHINGTON (AP) — A chunk of ceiling fell inside a main hallway of the Kennedy Center, according to a spokesperson who said the damage underscores the need to shut down the historic arts venue for renovations sought by President Donald Trump.

No one was injured when a piece of the ceiling inside the Kennedy Center's grand foyer collapsed Friday evening, said Roma Daravi, the center's vice president for public relations.

Photos provided by the center showed a large hole in the high ceiling and debris littering the red carpet in part of the hallway that connects the Kennedy Center's three main performance auditoriums. The damage occurred during stormy weather in Washington.

The Kennedy Center's Trump-aligned board is fighting in court to move forward with plans to add Trump's name to the building's facade and to close the center for two years as it undergoes $250 million in renovations.

Daravi called the partial ceiling collapse Friday “another example of the urgent need to close for renovation and revitalization, as our Chairman President Trump has championed."

"This structural failure stems from decades of neglect and deferred maintenance by the previous leadership, and there’s no justification for further delays in restoring America’s cultural center,” Daravi said in a statement.

Trump's efforts to add his name and make other big changes to the center established to honor President John F. Kennedy following his assassination are just part of Trump's broader second-term agenda to reshape Washington.

Trump already has demolished the East Wing of the White House to make way for a ballroom. He also plans a triumphal arch near Arlington National Cemetery and a renovated golf course along the Potomac River.

U.S. District Judge Christopher Cooper ruled in May that Trump's name had been added to the Kennedy Center illegally and ordered that it be taken down. He also blocked the administration from closing the venue for renovations.

Now before the judge is an August vote by the Kennedy Center's board to return Trump's name to the facade so reads: "The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts Restored and Renovated By President Donald J. Trump.” Justice Department lawyers have argued donations for renovations will dry up without Trump's name on the building.

Other changes have moved forward. Last week, the Kennedy Center took down a large stick figure sculpture known as Blue that had stood outside the center in 2019. The Kennedy Center gave no reason for its removal, but said in a statement “we are honored to have been stewards” of the late sculptor Joel Shapiro's work.

Grace Terpstra of Keep the KC, a community group fighting the Kennedy Center's closure, said she suspects the board will seize on what appears to be limited ceiling damage “to make the point that the whole thing needs to be shut down, that it’s going to fall on everybody."

“I think they’ll try to make it into a bigger thing and show that they’ve found a lot of other things,” said Terpstra, the group's founder.

Haaland scores again as Man City maintains perfect start to the Premier League season

MANCHESTER, England (AP) — A new-look Manchester City. Same old Erling Haaland.

The Norway striker scored his third goal of the season as City extended its 100% start by beating Coventry 1-0 to stay at the top of the Premier League on Saturday.

City has spent more than $600 million revamping its squad under new manager Enzo Maresca, but Haaland remains its prize asset.

His 26th-minute header at the Etihad Stadium provided the decisive moment against newly promoted Coventry and maintained Maresca's perfect start since taking on the daunting task of following in Pep Guardiola’s footsteps.

Maresca's job will be made a lot easier if Haaland can maintain his scoring form, with the forward scoring for the third time in two games.

“It’s an important win, different from the first two. They have all been different," Maresca said. "I’m very happy. I know the players day-by-day, we know each other. It means we will get better and better.”

City’s lavish spending in the post-Guardiola era carried on right up until deadline day with the signings of Enzo Fernandez and Iliman Ndiaye. Both started against Coventry.

“(We) started with a win, so it couldn’t get any better," Ndiaye said.

City is three points clear of defending champion Arsenal, which plays Chelsea on Sunday.

Hull hosted Aston Villa in the late game Saturday and had the chance to move level on points with a win.

Tottenham picked up its first point of the season with a 0-0 draw at Nottingham Forest, and Newcastle remains unbeaten under new coach Matthias Jaissle thanks to a late equalizer from Jacob Ramsey in a 2-2 draw with Bournemouth.

Crystal Palace twice came back against Fulham to eventually win 3-2 at Craven Cottage for its first points of the campaign while Brighton drew 1-1 with Leeds.

Brentford and Sunderland also drew 1-1.

Newcastle rallied from 2-0 down to rescue a point at St. James’ Park after Ramsey came off the bench and struck late to salvage a draw with Bournemouth.

Ramsey fired home from inside the box in the 88th to spark wild celebrations from Newcastle fans.

Bournemouth led through Marcus Tavernier’s goal in the ninth minute and went 2-0 ahead when Malick Thiaw deflected the ball into his own net in the 35th.

Harvey Barnes responded two minutes later with a brilliant solo goal by cutting in from the left and curling the ball into the top corner.

Newcastle looked to be heading for its first defeat of the season until Ramsey lashed low past Bournemouth goalkeeper Djordje Petrovic.

It was the third time this season Bournemouth squandered a lead late in games. The Cherries conceded in stoppage time against Manchester City — after allowing a late equalizer — and Everton in their opening two games of the campaign.

Big spending Tottenham got its first point of the season, but it is still without a league goal despite revamping its attack in the transfer window.

Summer signings Omar Marmoush and Savio were both blunted at the City Ground, while on-loan Mykhailo Mudryk also failed to find a breakthrough after coming on to make his debut.

“The problem is the last third, not because we have not the quality. We have great players,” said Spurs coach Roberto De Zerbi. “We have to be better in the last decision, to keep calm when we are in the last third and take the best decision."

Forest thought it had found the winner through Neco Williams, but the goal was ruled out by VAR because of a handball.

It's been a difficult start for new Fulham coach Alvaro Arbeloa after three straight league losses.

The former Real Madrid coach might have thought he was set for a first win after his team led 1-0 through Josh King and then 2-1 through Cesar Palacios.

Palace had other ideas, with Tyrick Mitchell twice equalizing and Ben Chilwell scoring the winner in the 77th.

Sunderland secured a late draw at Brentford through Enzo Le Fee's penalty in the 82nd. Leeds was looking for a third straight win and led Brighton 1-0 thanks to Jayden Bogle until Luka Vuskovic leveled in the 71st.

James Robson is at https://x.com/jamesalanrobson

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