Lee blocked a bill that would require Congress to explicitly approve tearing down any presidential memorial it has named. Jeff Merkley (Sen-D Oregon) and Lisa Murkowski (Sen-R Alaska) asked to pass their Protecting Presidential Memorials Act by unanimous consent. Lee objected. In a separate move, a judge ordered 30 days' advance notice of any plans to tear one down.
Where the building stands
- Trump says the renovation will not go ahead unless a court reverses its ruling against putting his name on the building.
- Murkowski: "what was not authorized is a demolition of the Kennedy Center."
- Merkley: "First, he destroyed its programming, and now, he wants to destroy the building itself."