final looks – With a June 12 deadline looming to remove President Donald Trump’s name from the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, visitors and residents gathered Friday—some to celebrate what will stay, others to watch history unfold.
A stream of visitors flowed into the Kennedy Center on Friday, phones held up like proof they were there. The reason was simple and personal: days before a June 12 deadline to remove President Donald Trump’s name from the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, many people wanted one last look.
Barbara, a visitor from Colorado, said she came specifically to photograph the building before it loses his name. “We wanted to take pictures of the Kennedy Center before they took Donald Trump’s name off of it. ” she said. “We very much support President Trump, and we like seeing his name out there for the world to see.”.
She posed for a selfie with her husband, Scott. Scott said they watched “Les Misérables” at the Kennedy Center last year. and he sees the presence of Trump’s name as something worth keeping. He said Trump is “bombastic. ” but added that he has “a good heart.” Scott also pointed to his view of Trump’s public impact. saying. “He’s done a lot to clean up the area and the country. so I really. really appreciate a lot of his efforts.”.
Not everyone who showed up was there to hold on to the name.
Bill and Cheri Collins, visiting from outside Atlanta, said they were hoping to witness the change. “We came by to watch Donald J. Trump get taken off the Kennedy Center,” Bill said. He described the moment they planned for, saying they were going to bring a bottle of Champagne “just to watch.”
The couple previously lived in the D.C. area before moving to Georgia in the early 2000s. Until they head back home next Wednesday, Bill and Cheri said they plan to return to the Kennedy Center every day in hopes of seeing Trump’s name come down.
Locals also made the same kind of stop—some for the chance to catch a final glimpse, others for what they say will be the point when they finally return.
Adams Morgan resident Donna Merz said she had not set foot inside the Kennedy Center since Trump’s name was added to the building. She told WTOP she is waiting for the removal to become official. “The minute everything is official. I’ll be back with my season tickets. and coming on at least a monthly basis. ” Merz said.
Kennedy Center Trump name removal June 12 deadline tourists locals Adams Morgan Donna Merz Les Misérables
So it’s really about taking his name off and not like… the arts? Wild.
I don’t even get why people are acting like it’s a holiday. It’s just letters on a building. But also, if they’re removing it because of politics then yeah, that’s gonna be messy.
They watched Les Misérables and that’s what we’re focusing on? I saw some post that said the building itself was gonna be renamed or closed down, which is not the same thing. So either the article’s missing stuff or people are mixing it up.
It’s insane that people are bringing champagne just to “watch” a name come down… like calm down. Also the lady saying she’ll come back the minute it’s official—does that mean she’s boycotting until then? Seems like politics is getting more attached than the actual performances.