Thousands join protest outside Kennedy Center, expressing concern that Trump might tear it down

WASHINGTON (AP) — Thousands of people joined outside the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts Friday evening to protest President Donald Trump's plans for the facility, lending their voices to a chorus of organizations and individuals who have been horrified that he might make good on his threat to close and tear down the storied institution.

The crowd streamed in from the nearest subway stop, crowding streets in the Foggy Bottom area of Washington and locking down traffic as they walked, many carrying signs, as they joined in “Hands Around the Kennedy Center.” At one point some held hands and formed a human chain around the center.

Chris Raleigh, co-founder of Hands Off the Arts, which set up the gathering, said in an interview that he hoped the event would show that people are willing to fight to keep Trump's plans for the building at bay.

One of the most iconic buildings on the Potomac River waterfront, the Kennedy Center has been a focus of Trump’s remake of Washington since 2025, when he began installing favorites onto its governing board. Late last year, he had his named placed on the center. A judge ruled that Trump’s name was illegally added and ordered it removed.

The Kennedy Center board, which is aligned with the president, voted Tuesday to close the center indefinitely for repairs hours after U.S. District Judge Christopher Cooper blocked their plans to return Trump’s name to the building. On Thursday, the judge ordered the Kennedy Center to provide 30 days’ notice before making any major physical changes to the building, including demolishing it.

Raleigh said he, like others, is concerned that Trump could take the step without notifying the court. “Look at the East Wing,” he said. “We got up one morning and there was a giant hole there.”

Raleigh said the Kennedy Center is more in the public eye than the East Wing was. He added he doesn’t believe the president fully understands why people are so upset “but that’s our job right? This may be the line that no one expected but this is where the line is going to be.”

Protesters talked about the importance of the center as the pinnacle of the nation's performing arts world.

Bud Wilkinson, a local member of the arts community, set up a chalkboard with Trump's name written on it hundreds of times. Protesters flocked to him to erase the names and replace them with hearts.

“The Kennedy Center is vital to the arts in Washington. We need it. We need this,” Wilkinson said. “This is not just about putting the president’s name on the Kennedy Center. It’s about censoring the performances and the programming. That’s what started all this. So that’s what the nitty-gritty really is about this. So I want to replace all of this with love. That’s why there’s a heart.”

Alina Baciu talked about the opportunities and relationships that students at the Duke Ellington School of the Arts have with the center and how those relationships might be impacted by what's going on.

Her daughter had numerous opportunities to take advantage of all the center had to offer as a student at Duke Ellington, she said. “I mean, they borrowed the beautiful costumes and the beautiful dresses from the Washington National Opera for their performances at Duke Ellington,” she said. They also performed on the center's Millennium Stage.

"All of those things have gone away because of this craziness. And it just hurts my heart,” Baciu said.

Laura Steinberg, a volunteer for the last 10 years, said the loss of performances has already been heart- wrenching. “This reminds me of that picture from Tiananmen Square, where that young man stood in front of the tank,” she said of the throngs present. “This was my visceral response to this. I’ll stand in front of the wrecking ball if it’s going to come to that. My guess is many of these people would come down because we saw what he did to the East Wing. Nobody thought he would actually do it. So I think the shock has mobilized people.”

Friday's event followed a tumultuous week in federal courts in Washington where filings and counter-filings flooded the courts as the administration continues pushing for the president’s vanity projects. The administration has made substantive steps to begin work on a number of projects, despite the fact they are still being litigated. Such projects include Trump's triumphal arch and the administration’s takeover of East Potomac Golf Links and the U.S. Institute of Peace.

Speaking from the Oval Office, Trump said he was willing to save the center, which he said was losing money. He did not address a question about demolishing it.

“We have a lot of people working very hard on it to save it," he said. "I can save it easily, but why should we be doing that and then raise money for the rest of our lives to keep it afloat? Because that’s what you have to do, if we get no recognition. I think the Trump administration should be recognized as having saved the Kennedy Center.”

Bud Wilkinson, a member of the local art community, offers protesters at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts a chance to erase the President's name and replace it with hearts, Friday, Sept. 18, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Gary Fields)

People rally against the closing of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts on Friday, Sept. 18, 2026, in Washington. ( (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)

Musicians perform during the rally against the closing of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts on Friday, Sept. 18, 2026, in Washington. ( (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)

People protest outside the Kennedy Center over the threats by President Donald Trump to demolish the performing arts center, in Washington, Friday, Sept. 18, 2026. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

Actress Lynda Carter speaks to the crowd as they rally against the closing of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts on Friday, Sept. 18, 2026, in Washington. ( (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)

CLEVELAND (AP) — José Ramírez and rookie Travis Bazzana homered and Joey Cantillo pitched six scoreless innings as the Cleveland Guardians rallied to beat the Athletics 5-3 on Friday night and stay atop the AL Central.

Ramírez connected in the sixth inning to give the Guardians a two-run cushion. His 12th homer was also the seven-time All-Star's 1,000th RBI, making him just the second Cleveland player to reach the plateau. Earl Averill drove in 1,084 runs.

Bazzana snapped a 3-3 tie in the fifth as the Guardians came back after falling behind 3-0 in the first.

Cleveland, 18-9 since Aug. 20, came in tied with Chicago for first in the division. The White Sox hold the head-to-head tiebreaker.

Cantillo (10-9) allowed two hits in six innings after replacing opener Daniel Espino. Cantillo has not given up a run in 10 innings over his past two outings.

Hunter Gaddis and Cade Smith finished off the combined three-hitter. Smith worked the ninth for his 38th save.

Zack Gelof hit a three-run homer for the A's, who are 0-4 on their final road trip of 2026.

Bazzana put Cleveland ahead 4-3 in the fifth with his 15th homer, a 411-foot leadoff drive to center off Scott Blewett (2-1).

The Guardians had squandered early scoring chances, loading the bases in the first two innings but failing to push a run across.

Cleveland finally strung some hits together in the fourth, scoring three times off starter Mason Barnett to tie it.

Rocchio, who leads all MLB No. 9 hitters in RBI with 50, delivered a two-run double and scored on Ramírez's two-out single.

Espino opened for Cleveland and started poorly.

The right-hander walked three in the first and allowed the three-run homer to Gelof, his 19th.

LHP Jacob Lopez (6-4, 5.02 ERA) starts Saturday for Oakland against Tanner Bibee (6-15, 4.16), who has gotten minimal support (3.05 runs per game) this season.

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

Cleveland Guardians' Brayan Rocchio, right, watches his two-run double off Athletics starting pitcher Mason Barnett as Athletics catcher Jonah Heim, left, looks on during the fourth inning of a baseball game, Friday, Sept. 18, 2026, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Phil Long)

Athletics' Michael Stefanic, left, cannot hold on to the ball as Cleveland Guardians' Jose Ramirez, right, slides safely into second base with a steal during the fourth inning of a baseball game, Friday, Sept. 18, 2026, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Phil Long)

Cleveland Guardians' Petey Halpin slides safely across home plate on a double hit by Brayan Rocchio during the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Athletics, Friday, Sept. 18, 2026, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Phil Long)

Cleveland Guardians relief pitcher Joey Cantillo delivers against the Athletics during the third inning of a baseball game, Friday, Sept. 18, 2026, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Phil Long)

Cleveland Guardians' Jose Ramirez, right, watches his solo home run off Athletics relief pitcher Seth Johnson as Athletics catcher Jonah Heim, left, looks on during the sixth inning of a baseball game, Friday, Sept. 18, 2026, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Phil Long)