Featured Image Credit: Chip Somodevilla/Getty
Topics: Donald Trump, Art, John F. Kennedy, Washington
William Morgan
Topics: Donald Trump, Art, John F. Kennedy, Washington
The Trump-Kennedy Center has suffered a 'targeted' attack that has forced the cancellation of an upcoming performance.
A spokesperson for the recently renamed cultural institution has said that a 'toxic chemical' was spread over the ice rink, with a photo showing a large plastic jug sitting on the ice as a black oil-like substance spreads around it.
White House communications deputy director Roma Daravi, who also works at the center in Washington, blasted the vandalism on X, stating: "Our outdoor plaza was doused with a toxic chemical and severely damaged. We will not tolerate violence or hate at America’s cultural center."
The act of vandalism follows a troubled 12 months for the formerly named John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, which was so named as a 'living' tribute to the well-liked assassinated president.
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But after sacking the center's board of trustees and appointing his own people. They made President Trump the chairman and voted to add his name to the respected American cultural institution.
In turn, this has prompted a number of artists to cancel their performances at the newly politicized venue, which features an opera house, concert hall, theater, and a number of other smaller spaces for the performing arts.
However, ticket sales have also plummeted in the wake of the institution's radical change in direction, with the Guardian reporting an almost 50 percent fall in sales since Trump took office.
Amid these difficulties, the president announced earlier this month that they would be closing the center for two years from July 4, stating "I have determined that The Trump Kennedy Center, if temporarily closed for construction, revitalisation, and complete rebuilding, can be, without question, the finest performing arts facility of its kind, anywhere in the world."
The renamed center's comms director added in their public statement on the attack, which took place on Thursday night, that 'authorities' are investigating the incident and that the perpetrators will be 'held accountable'.
In a later statement, she further explained: "[A] targeted attack on the Trump Kennedy Center vandalized and destroyed our outdoor arena, causing severe damage that we unfortunately must cancel [Friday’s] performance, but we are working feverishly to complete repairs so programming can resume tomorrow,"
Replying to comments, Daravi blamed the attack on 'the media and democrats' for 'promoting violent rhetoric' about the center since Trump took over, with a bomb threat also being called in the day before.
Park Police confirmed to the Independent that they were investigating the incident, saying in a statement: “The center’s Special Police reported that an unidentified individual came onto the property around 11:54 p.m. Thursday and poured a substance onto the ice,”
“The USPP Major Crimes Unit is reviewing security footage and investigating. No further information is available at this time.”
No information has been given about when the cancelled performance, due to be given by Montreal ice skating company Le Patin Libre, will be rescheduled.