Legal observer said she saw forklift repeatedly hit Kennedy Center pillars

Claim:

A legal team member representing U.S. Rep. Joyce Beatty (D-OH)—who has opposed President Donald Trump’s actions regarding the Kennedy Center—testified in a sworn court declaration that she witnessed a forklift repeatedly crashing into the building’s pillars.

Rating:

Context

Investigators have not yet established why the forklift was striking the pillars, leaving it unconfirmed whether the incident stemmed from an accident or deliberate damage.

In September 2026, Washington, D.C.’s John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts
announced
a temporary closure to the public, citing budgetary hurdles and upcoming renovations. Shortly afterward, U.S. Rep. Joyce Beatty—an Ohio Democrat and Kennedy Center trustee—
filed a motion
demanding an emergency hearing to force officials to justify the shutdown.

Soon, claims
began circulating
on social media suggesting that court filings contained an eyewitness account of a forklift deliberately ramming into structural columns at the venue. Readers reached out with
posts
(archived) questioning if the building was being intentionally vandalized:

We had assumed safety concerns at the Kennedy Center stemmed from the Trump administration. That appears increasingly likely. According to a sworn declaration submitted today, a legal observer saw a forklift carrying fencing to the north side of the property and repeatedly drive straight into the building’s pillars. It seems they may have fabricated structural hazards to justify closing the facility for renovations.

Public records confirm that a legal observer did indeed state in a court document that she watched a forklift repeatedly strike the columns of the Kennedy Center on September 16, 2026, making the core claim accurate.

However, the motive behind the operator’s actions remains unknown.

Inquiries have been sent to the Kennedy Center regarding the use of heavy machinery on-site and the specific incident involving the pillars. Updates will be provided as more details emerge.

On September 16, legal counsel representing Rep. Beatty in her ongoing dispute with President Donald Trump submitted a
declaration
(archived) detailing observations made by a team member. Bridget Kennedy-Bailey of the Washington Litigation Group recounted her visit to the center that day:

I observed a forklift transporting what appeared to be permanent fencing toward the north exterior of the facility. I watched as the vehicle drove into and struck the building’s supporting pillars multiple times.

Kennedy-Bailey
noted
that upon arriving that morning, staff members informed her the center was closed under orders from executive leadership, while a public relations representative claimed the shutdown was for maintenance. She also observed other equipment positioning barriers near the main entrance.

Concluding the
document
, Kennedy-Bailey formally stated, “I declare under penalty of perjury that the foregoing is true and correct.”

Definitive answers regarding the intent of the forklift operator await official statements from the Kennedy Center management or staff willing to speak publicly.

The rumors surrounding the machinery arose
shortly after a judge ruled
that adding Trump’s name to the institution would necessitate congressional approval, countering arguments from the Trump-appointed board that the center’s financial survival depended on the rebrand.

Describing a tense closed-door conference with trustees on September 15—which followed the judicial block on his naming proposal—Beatty alleged that Trump experienced an outburst. “He resorted to name-calling, accusing me of obstructionism and calling me unintelligent,” Beatty stated during an appearance on
MS NOW.

For related reporting, archives feature coverage on
various
controversies
involving
the Trump administration’s oversight of the Kennedy Center.

Sources