Vandals poured a toxic chemical across the Trump-Kennedy Center’s outdoor ice rink early Friday morning, forcing officials to cancel that evening’s performance.
A brown-black substance spread across the ice surface caused severe damage to the outdoor arena, Fox News reported. A gallon-sized container was left behind on the damaged rink. Officials confirmed the substance was toxic, though the exact chemical has not been publicly identified.
No suspect or motive has been announced, according to Fox News. The incident is under investigation by U.S. Park Police, with surveillance footage provided to the FBI. (RELATED: Trump Announces He’s Closing Kennedy Center For 2 Years)
“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,” Roma Daravi, vice president of public relations for the Trump-Kennedy Center, said in a statement, according to Fox News.
The vandalism shut down a scheduled performance by Le Patin Libre, a Montreal-based artistic skating company, The Washington Times reported. The troupe had chosen to honor its commitment at the venue despite pressure from activists urging artists to boycott. Founder Alexandre Hamel said in a statement that the company kept its dates because “we don’t have this kind of prosperity that allows us to live easily and perform when we want.”
This is so sad & unnecessary - @TheDemocrats have been calling artists urging them to cancel and attacking the Center non-stop.
— Richard Grenell (@RichardGrenell) February 21, 2026
It’s a calculated campaign.
And now they have mentally unstable people taking action - and vandalizing the Center.
We’ve seen serious death…
The incident follows months of backlash after 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.”
Since the renaming, numerous high-profile artists have bowed to activist pressure and canceled performances, including the touring production of Hamilton, composer Philip Glass, the Martha Graham Dance Company and choreographer Doug Varone, according to NPR. Critics of the renaming have largely come from progressive circles, with several performers citing opposition to President Trump’s policies as their reason for withdrawing.
