Barbra Streisand released a statement Thursday expressing concern over developments at the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C. The statement came after photographs showed President Trump examining materials that appeared to reference demolition of the facility. Streisand, a Kennedy Center Honors recipient in 2008, described the situation as both painful and troubling to observe.
The Kennedy Center has been involved in legal disputes regarding the president’s attempts to add his name to the building’s exterior. A federal judge previously ruled that changing the facility’s name would require an act of Congress, and Trump’s name was subsequently removed from the façade. Following this removal, a protective tarp was placed over the entrance area. Despite the legal setback, efforts to add the president’s name continued, leading to another federal ruling blocking the attempt.
On Thursday, a district judge instructed the Kennedy Center to provide at least 30 days’ notice before implementing significant changes to renovation or construction plans, including any demolition of the main building. Earlier in the week, Trump indicated to reporters that the facility might be demolished if his name were not displayed on the building.
Streisand’s statement reviewed the Kennedy Center’s history as a memorial to President John F. Kennedy, established through Congressional action following his assassination in 1964. She emphasized the institution’s role as a cultural venue and repository of artistic achievement. Streisand framed her concerns around the building’s original purpose as a tribute to Kennedy’s belief in the importance of art to a functioning democracy.
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