According to reports, the Trump-Kennedy Center was the target of a “calculated, malicious attack” after a vandalized outdoor ice rink forced the cancellation of a performance.
A “toxic chemical” was poured onto the rink, Fox News reports.
“Today, a targeted attack on the Trump Kennedy Center vandalized and destroyed our outdoor arena, causing severe damage that we unfortunately must cancel tonight’s performance, but we are working feverishly to complete repairs so programming can resume tomorrow,” said Roma Daravi, vice president of public relations for the Trump-Kennedy Center, according to the outlet.
“We have turned over video footage to the authorities who are investigating this calculated, malicious attack and hold those responsible accountable,” Daravi added.
SLICK SABOTAGE: The Trump-Kennedy Center was the target of what officials described as a “calculated, malicious attack” after a “toxic chemical” was poured onto its outdoor ice rink, severely damaging the arena and forcing the cancellation of a scheduled performance. pic.twitter.com/lYU3u6B5AO
— Fox News (@FoxNews) February 21, 2026
Fox News explained further:
Trump-Kennedy Center officials said a brown-black substance was poured across the ice early Friday morning. Images from the scene show the material spread widely across the rink, with what appears to be a gallon-sized milk container visible on the ice.
Leadership at the venue said the substance was “toxic.” The exact chemical has not yet been publicly identified.
The vandalism forced the cancellation of a scheduled performance at the Trump-Kennedy Center by Montreal-based skating company Le Patin Libre.
The incident comes amid a broader transformation of the Trump-Kennedy Center following a leadership overhaul and significant funding secured for long-deferred infrastructure improvements.
The board of trustees voted unanimously in December 2025 to rename the facility “The Donald J. Trump and The John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts.”
“Help us find this terrorist suspect who attacked the Trump Kennedy Center. Notice his shoes and his umbrella. Do you know who this is?” Richard Grenell wrote on X.
Help us find this terrorist suspect who attacked the Trump Kennedy Center.
— Richard Grenell (@RichardGrenell) February 22, 2026
Notice his shoes and his umbrella.
Do you know who this is?
Call 202.416.7900 with any tips. pic.twitter.com/V0TJTaBZRI
More from the New York Post:
Grenell went on to accuse Democrats of calling artists and “urging them to cancel” and “attacking the Center non-stop.”
“It’s a calculated campaign,” he fumed. “And now they have mentally unstable people taking action — and vandalizing the Center.”
Grenell said the iconic performing arts venue has received “serious death threats and constant harassment,” and he urged “Commonsense Democrats” to “speak up before this violence takes a life.”
The center has faced a flurry of performance cancellations in recent months in response to President Trump’s move to oust former leadership and affix his name to the venue’s facade.
Earlier this month, Trump announced the venue would be closing for two years, beginning on July 4, to undergo massive renovations.
