Kennedy Center fencing goes up amid demolition fears

Fencing shot up around the Kennedy Center's main building Wednesday, a day after its Trump-aligned board voted to shutter it for repairs.

Why it matters: The shutdown is taking shape as a federal judge is being asked to intervene, again, in the performing arts center board's plans.

The latest: Rep. Joyce Beatty (D-Ohio), an ex officio Kennedy Center trustee, asked a federal judge for an emergency hearing Wednesday, arguing the closure may violate his earlier order.

A member of Beatty's legal team was denied entry Wednesday and told the building was closed to the public.

U.S. District Judge Christopher Cooper ordered the Kennedy Center to respond by Thursday morning and said he would schedule a prompt hearing if necessary.

Friction point: Beatty's lawyers raised concerns about possible demolition, writing that the nature of the construction — "and any potential demolition" — remains unclear. They warned officials could demolish entrances or other public access to the building.

Trump's board first threatened wrecking balls in August amid the fight over restoring his name to the building.

The building's exterior has already been altered by the removal of the massive "Blue" statue.

Zoom out: Trump said in a Truth Social post Tuesday that renovations won't begin until an appeals court rules on the naming fight.

What the Kennedys are saying: Kerry Kennedy, daughter of Robert F. Kennedy, called the closure a "tragedy" and "hostage taking by the president."

Maria Shriver, JFK's niece, wrote Tuesday that Trump's insistence that renovations wait until the naming dispute is resolved "blows my mind," calling it a "sad state of affairs."

What's ahead: Advocacy group Hands Off the Arts is planning a rally outside the Kennedy Center Friday at 6:30pm.