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Video exposes disrepair lurking beneath Trump Kennedy Center as $257M renovation looms
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Peeling concrete, exposed steel rebar, rust-streaked electrical equipment and vents patched together with layers of duct tape are among the problems hidden beneath the Trump Kennedy Center, according to photos, project materials and board minutes obtained by Fox News Digital as officials push to temporarily shut down the building for major repairs.
The Trump Kennedy Center released documentation Wednesday of what it described as «decades of deferred maintenance and critical infrastructure needs» as part of a $257 million renovation effort, offering an unusually detailed look at the condition of the venue as leadership pushes forward with the project.
The disclosures come as debate intensifies over the plan to close the center for up to two years. While there appears to be broad agreement that the building requires significant repair, some Democrats have objected to the speed of the process.
According to March 16 meeting minutes reviewed by Fox News Digital, Democrat Rep. Joyce Beatty, D-Ohio, said she had «no opposition for the need for repair» but «strongly opposes voting on a closure.»
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Pre-renovation images show deteriorating infrastructure inside the Trump Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., including a displaced sluice panel, water-stained and corroded electrical equipment and exposed structural concrete with visible rebar. (Courtesy of the Trump Kennedy Center)
The minutes also say Beatty argued there had not been «enough time to review, study, and discuss» the proposal.
The condition of the building is evident in images and video provided by the Trump Kennedy Center, which show water damage affecting electrical systems, rusted infrastructure and large sections of concrete where internal steel supports are exposed.
Project materials describe «2,000+ pound soffit panels» that have reached «end-of-life» and «present a public safety risk,» along with «hundreds of structural failure points» in areas such as the parking garage.
Officials also cited «extensive water infiltration,» deterioration in electrical rooms beneath entrances and long-term damage affecting the center’s iconic white marble exterior as well as concrete and core structural systems.
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The electrical vault room shows extreme water damage with wet surfaces and debris inside the facility. (Courtesy of the Trump Kennedy Center)
Officials have warned that, without repairs, deteriorating structural elements, water-damaged electrical systems and heavy overhead components nearing «end-of-life» could pose potential safety risks to visitors and staff.
The scope of the problems outlined in the new materials echoes earlier warnings from center leadership. In February, officials told Fox News Digital that decades of neglect had left the building in «extremely poor condition,» citing broken elevators, failing HVAC systems and deferred maintenance needs they warned could threaten the venue’s very survival.
«We are financially stable, yet the building is still physically in trouble,» Vice President of Public Relations Roma Daravi said in a previous statement to Fox News Digital.
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Improper installation trapped moisture behind marble siding panels at the Trump Kennedy Center, causing staining and internal corrosion. The panels and granite paving slabs will be replaced with corrected drainage systems. (Courtesy of the Trump Kennedy Center)
Executive Director Matt Floca said the decision to close the center is driven by the scale of the work required.
«So, the recommendation was just natural: You shut the building down, temporarily, and you make this investment. And then you reopen,» Floca said.
President Donald Trump has also previously argued that closing the building is necessary to complete the work efficiently.
«If we don’t close, the quality of construction will not be nearly as good,» Trump said.
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A memorial bust of former President John F. Kennedy is displayed in the lobby of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C., as patrons attend the Washington National Opera on Sept. 24, 2013. (Paul J. Richards/Getty Images)
Floca said the scope of the repairs is based on long-standing assessments of the building’s condition, not a newly developed plan.
«The maintenance needs were all developed previously in a 2021 Comprehensive Building Plan,» he said.
Asked how visitors have reacted when seeing the condition of the building up close, Floca said there has been «surprise across the board — ‘How did we get here,’ right?»
Tours of the Trump Kennedy Center have been offered on a bipartisan basis to lawmakers, along with donors and other key stakeholders, as officials seek to demonstrate the extent of the damage firsthand.
The sessions began earlier this month while Congress was in recess and included staff for a bipartisan group of lawmakers, including Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries, as well as offices representing both parties in the House and Senate and a representative for Washington Mayor Muriel Bowser.
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President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump attend the opening night of the musical «Chicago» at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington March 31, 2026. (Rod Lamkey Jr./AP)
Opponents have also raised concerns about process and oversight, and a lawsuit brought by the National Trust for Historic Preservation has argued that major changes could affect the historic integrity of the building.
«We’re maintaining the JFK bust where it is,» Floca told gathered press on Wednesday. «The memorial at large will stay the same. All of the quotes and everything on the marble on the exterior building, none of that’s changing.»
The physical deterioration outlined in the renovation plans comes as the center has reported financial gains under current leadership. In December, officials told Fox News Digital the Kennedy Center Honors raised a record $23 million, nearly doubling the previous year’s total.
The fundraising gains followed leadership changes that saw Trump take on a more direct role in the institution, including as chairman of its board.
Congress has appropriated roughly $257 million for the work through the «One, Big Beautiful Bill» signed into law last year.
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Renovations are expected to begin after July 4, 2026.
«This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for the center,» Floca said Wednesday. «All of these improvements that we need to make are real, are needed. And we have the timeframe to do it. I’m incredibly excited about it.»
The Office of Rep. Joyce Beatty did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.
kennedy center, congress, maintenance, arts, fund raising
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The Department of Justice (DOJ) says it has opened an investigation into a New York City coffee shop after it blasted Rep. Dan Goldman, D-N.Y., in a social media post, saying it should not have served him, and he should never come back due to his support of Israel.
Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights Harmeet Dhillon said the DOJ has opened an investigation into the Poetica Coffee Shop in Brooklyn.
Dhillon says the department is aware of the «denial of service taunts» directed at Goldman and says federal law prohibits public accommodations, including coffee shops, from discriminating against patrons based on race, religion, or national origin. Dhillon says the alleged denial of service could violate federal anti-discrimination law and says enforcement action is possible.
In a now-deleted Facebook post, Poetica Coffee said it issued a refund to Goldman after learning that he had stopped by the location with his young daughter. The shop added that it would have simply turned Goldman away if staff had recognized him at the time.
SMOOTHIE KING FIRES EMPLOYEES WHO REFUSED TO SERVE CUSTOMERS OVER TRUMP SWEATSHIRT
Rep. Dan Goldman, D, N.Y., was criticized by Poetica, a left-leaning coffee shop in Brooklyn, which called scolded him over his support for Israel. (Dan Goldman)
«Hey Congressman Dan Goldman, we see that you stopped by our shop today for a coffee. Do you see how it doesn’t taste like genocide juice? Or are you still having a hard time telling the difference?» the post stated, referring to Goldman’s support for Israel and accusations that the Jewish state has committed genocide against Palestinians during the war in Gaza.
«See, here at Poetica, we don’t serve racists, fascists, homophobes, genocide enablers, or anyone in between,» the post continued. «Too bad we didn’t recognize you right away, or we would have turned you away. We issued you a refund—we don’t need your money (it’s probably coming from AIPAC anyways). Enjoy your loss on Tuesday. Don’t ever come to Poetica.»
A Brooklyn, N.Y., coffee shop refunded a purchase made by Rep. Dan Goldman, D-N.Y., over the weekend over his support for Israel, saying the company doesn’t serve «genocide enablers.» (Getty Images; Google Maps)
In a statement on social media, Goldman said he was disappointed by the shop’s remarks.
«I’m sorry to see this post,» he said. «The barista could not have been nicer to my 7-year-old daughter and me—allowing her to use the bathroom even though we had not purchased anything. I made sure to buy a coffee in return for her kindness. I hope you at least make sure she gets the tip that she deserved.»
In response, the shop said it was the barista’s idea to refund Goldman’s purchase. The poster added that they will be voting against Goldman, who faces a Democratic primary challenge from former city Comptroller Brad Lander.
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Fox News Digital has reached out to Goldman and the coffee shop, as well as the offices of New York State Attorney General Letitia James and Mayor Zohran Mamdani, and the city’s Department of Consumer and Worker Protection.
«No comment. We stand against genocide,» a staffer told the New York Post.
The shop’s social media post was quickly criticized online.
Mark Treyger, the CEO of the Jewish Community Relations Council of New York, said the incident warrants a review under city and state human rights laws.
MAMDANI IN THE HOT SEAT AFTER FIRST VETO DERAILS BIPARTISAN EFFORT TO COMBAT ANTISEMITISM: ‘DISAPPOINTED’
Poetica Coffee in Brooklyn, N.Y., criticized Rep. Dan Goldman, N.Y., over his support for Israel. (Dan Goldman)
«Turning a cup of coffee into a Jewish identity litmus test is an affront to the law, our values, and every New Yorker who rejects discrimination,» he wrote on X. «If an identifiable Jewish customer walks into a coffee shop wearing a kippah or Magen David, are they expected to first disclose their views on Middle East policy before being served?»
The incident appears to contradict the opening statement on Poetica Coffee’s website by its owner, Parviz Mukhamadkulov, an Uzbek immigrant who opened his first location in 2020.
«In practice, it looks like a café where the door doesn’t close on anyone, where tea gets poured before anyone asks who you are,» the website states. «The guest is sacred because the act of welcoming is how a community keeps itself intact.»
Rep. Dan Goldman, D-N.Y., stands outside the Delaney Hall Detention Center in Newark, New Jersey, on May 28, 2026. (Rashid Umar Abbasi for Fox News Digital.)
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The shop also claims on its site that «whoever walks through the door is treated with unconditional dignity.»
«Not as a customer. Not as a transaction. As someone who arrived and deserves to be welcomed,» the site reads.
new york, coffee, anti semitism, zohran mamdani, judaism
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Nueva crisis política en el Reino Unido: la renuncia del premier Keir Starmer desata la carrera por la sucesión
No es el récord de Perú que tendrá nueve presidentes en los últimos diez años, pero se acerca. El renunciante Keir Starmer se convirtió este lunes en el sexto primer ministro británico en anunciar su salida del cargo en una década marcada por una sucesión de crisis políticas.
El premier laborista duró solo dos años en el número 10 de Downing Street. Una economía estancada y algunos escándalos sacudieron su gobierno de mayorías y lo llevaron a una dimisión esperada y anunciada el domingo por el mismísimo Donald Trump.
“Cada decisión que he tomado ha sido para anteponer al país que amo. Por eso dimitiré como líder del Partido Laborista”, dijo Starmer, de 63 años, emocionado, en su anuncio oficial.
Ahora comienza un período de transición. Andy Burnham, el exalcalde del bastión industrial de Manchester y flamante diputado del ala izquierda del partido, es el gran favorito para sucederlo. La maquinaria laborista debe echar andar ahora el sistema de sucesión. Hasta entonces, Starmer seguirá en el poder, aunque sin poder alguno.
Por qué renunció el premier británico
Starmer asumió el cargo el 5 de julio de 2024 cuando puso fin a 14 años de gobiernos conservadores.
El laborismo había ganado entonces, en forma contundente, las primeras elecciones celebradas después del Brexit, la salida del Reino Unido de la Unión Europea. La mayoría legislativa alcanzada auguraba un gobierno sin contratiempos.
Pero pasaron cosas. Keir Starmer anunció su salida del gobierno británico (Foto: REUTERS/Jaimi Joy)
“Durante la campaña que lo llevó a obtener mayoría absoluta, Starmer se presentó como la persona que podía llevar al Reino Unido a la tranquilidad y equilibrio que tanto el Brexit como el gobierno de (el conservador) Boris Johnson la habían privado», dijo a TN el analista argentino Gastón Fornés, profesor de Negocios Internacionales de la Universidad de Bristol, en Inglaterra.
Pero nada de eso ocurrió.
“En estos dos años no fue capaz de fijar y transmitir una idea y visión claras de lo que su gobierno quería hacer. Esto sumado a varios escándalos internos y cambios de dirección en algunas políticas clave, hicieron que ese apoyo mayoritario se fuera erosionando hasta llegar a la renuncia», indicó.
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El mayor escándalo fue el polémico nombramiento de Peter Mandelson como embajador en Washington en 2024. Fue sin dudas un tsunami político que tapó a su gobierno.
¿La causa? El diplomático estaba vinculado con el financista y pedófilo estadounidense Jeffrey Epstein, que murió en 2019 en la cárcel. Según los archivos de la investigación, Mandelson había transmitido a Epstein informaciones susceptibles de influir en los mercados, especialmente cuando era ministro en el gobierno de Gordon Brown (2008-2010).
Finalmente, fue arrestado el 23 de febrero pasado. El daño al gobierno laborista fue irreparable. En mayo, las elecciones locales fueron un cachetazo a la estabilidad política. El laborismo sufrió una dura derrota en todo el país. Nada volvió a ser igual.
La economía hizo el resto. Los británicos sufren una preocupante inestabilidad con un incierto panorama. El Brexit fue un duro golpe del que todavía no han logrado recuperarse. Se estima que el PIB perdió un 8% de su riqueza en comparación con un escenario de permanencia en la UE.
Hoy, las pymes denuncian barreras comerciales y mayores costos, mientras la inflación sigue siendo un problema. La economía crece, pero en forma lenta. En 2025, ese crecimiento fue de 1,3%.
Cómo se elegirá al nuevo premier
En el Reino Unido, la caída de un premier no se resuelve con nuevas elecciones generales. Es el partido en el gobierno quien elige al sucesor.
El comité ejecutivo nacional del laborismo prevé la apertura de las candidaturas para suceder a Starmer para el 9 de julio. Si hay un consenso, el “elegido” podría asumir entre el 17 o 18 de julio, según las previsiones de la prensa británica. Pero si hay varios postulantes, el proceso podría resolverse recién en septiembre con la convocatoria a un congreso del partido.
El gran favorito es el flamante diputado y exalcalde del Gran Manchester, Andy Burnham, de 56 años. Sin perder tiempo, ya anunció que será candidato.
Andy Burnham es el favorito para suceder a Keir Starmer (Foto: REUTERS/Temilade Adelaja)
Burnham, referente del ala izquierda del laborismo, fue electo diputado la semana pasada al ganar unas difíciles elecciones parciales ante la derecha radical en Makerfield. Su llegada al Parlamento este mismo lunes lo colocó en la línea de sucesión.
Se trata de un veterano político conocido como “el rey del Norte”. La prensa local lo considera el político más popular del país. Su llegada al número 10 de Downing Street parece cuestión de tiempo. Contaría con un respaldo suficiente en las filas del partido.
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Los dos únicos dirigentes que se perfilan como eventuales postulantes son la exvice de Starmer, Angela Rayner, que renunció en septiembre, y Al Carns, que dimitió la semana pasada como ministro de las Fuerzas Armadas. Pero por ahora ambos se mantienen en silencio.
La oposición conservadora y la derecha radical deberán esperar para dar el zarpazo. Las próximas elecciones generales no están previstas para antes de 2029. Hasta entonces, el laborismo mantendrá su actual mayoría parlamentaria.
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