{"id":2672672,"date":"2026-09-29T11:37:00","date_gmt":"2026-09-29T15:37:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/mike-lee-blocks-effort-to-prevent-trump-from-tearing-down-presidential-memorials\/"},"modified":"2026-09-29T11:42:29","modified_gmt":"2026-09-29T15:42:29","slug":"mike-lee-blocks-effort-to-prevent-trump-from-tearing-down-presidential-memorials","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/mike-lee-blocks-effort-to-prevent-trump-from-tearing-down-presidential-memorials\/","title":{"rendered":"Mike Lee blocks effort to prevent Trump from tearing down presidential memorials"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">24<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fmike-lee-blocks-effort-to-prevent-trump-from-tearing-down-presidential-memorials%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2672672&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>Senator Mike Lee (R-UT) blocked a bipartisan effort to prevent the Trump administration from demolishing the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts without congressional approval.Jeff Merkley (D-OR), along with Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), tried to pass the Protecting Presidential Memorials Act via unanimous consent, which would ban the demolition of federally authorized memorials honoring U.S. presidents without Congress&#8217;s approval. lee\u2019s objection halted the bill&#8217;s progress.<\/p>\n<p>The bill covers the Kennedy Center and also other memorials like the Lincoln and Jefferson Memorials. Merkley defended the legislation, emphasizing the importance of honoring presidential memorials, and accused President Trump of attempting to dismantle the Kennedy Center without proper authorization, citing efforts to remove Trump\u2019s name from the building and rumors of demolition.Trump took control of the Kennedy Center&#8217;s board,attempted to rename it,and faced legal injunctions blocking the name change. Concerns about potential demolition grew, especially after a leaked image suggested plans to demolish the center, and a court ordered the Trump administration to give 30 days\u2019 notice before any demolition actions. Senators Merkley and Murkowski, who oversee funding for the Kennedy Center, oppose such measures and aim to protect the historic site.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<article class=\"fn-body\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Sen.<a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/mike-lee\/\" data-type=\"post_tag\" data-id=\"684\"> Mike Lee<\/a> (R-UT) on Monday night blocked a bipartisan effort to prevent the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/trump-administration\/\" data-type=\"post_tag\" data-id=\"339\">Trump administration<\/a> from demolishing the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts without congressional approval.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Sen. <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/jeff-merkley\/\" data-type=\"post_tag\" data-id=\"3655\">Jeff Merkley<\/a> (D-OR) attempted to pass the<a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.merkley.senate.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/Protecting-Presidential-Memorials-Act.pdf\"> Protecting Presidential Memorials Act<\/a>, a bill he co-led with Sen. <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/lisa-murkowski\/\" data-type=\"post_tag\" data-id=\"2303\">Lisa Murkowski <\/a>(R-AK), by unanimous consent. The measure would prohibit the demolition of any federally authorized memorial honoring a U.S. president without an act of Congress.<\/p>\n<section class=\"explore-more-section\" id=\"wex-recommended-widget\">\n<style>.explore-more-section { background: var(--wex-bg); border-top: 1px solid #ffffff; border-bottom: 1px solid #ffffff; margin: 24px 0; margin-top: -20px; }<\/style>\n<style id=\"mos-95fa1289-532a-4e88-8ae3-bca875904c22-style\">@scope (#mos-95fa1289-532a-4e88-8ae3-bca875904c22) { .we-meter {   --we-red: #DB3745;   --we-charcoal: #323E48;   --we-blue: #15BEF0;   --we-slate: #85A0AB;   --we-gold: #ECC270;   --we-text: #323E48;   --we-border: #85A0AB;    max-width: 800px;   margin: 0 auto;   padding: 1.5rem;   border: 1px solid rgba(33, 39, 42, 0.4);   border-radius: 12px;   background: #fff;   color: var(--we-text);   font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif !important; }  .we-grid {   display: grid;   <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/lib-media-blames-christian-parents-for-nashville-shooting\/\" title=\"Lib Media Blames Christian Parents for Nashville Shooting\">grid-template-columns<\/a>: 1fr 200px;   gap: 1.5rem;   align-items: center; }  .we-title {   margin: 0 0 0.5rem;   font-family: Constantia, \"Lucida Bright\", \"DejaVu Serif\", Georgia, \"serif\" !important;   font-size: 1.75rem !important;   line-height: 1.1 !important;   letter-spacing: -0.02em !important; }  .we-title span {   display: block;   color: var(--we-red); }  .we-copy {   margin: 0;   font-size: 1rem !important;   line-height: 1.4 !important; }  .we-actions {   text-align: center; }  .we-cta {   display: flex;   align-items: center;   justify-content: center;   gap: 8px;   width: 100%;   padding: 12px 16px;   border-radius: 8px;   background: var(--we-red);   color: #fff !important;   text-decoration: none;   font-size: 0.9rem !important;   font-weight: 700 !important; }  .we-arrow {   font-size: 1.2em !important; }  .we-member {   margin: 12px 0 0;   font-size: 0.85rem !important;   line-height: 1.4 !important; }  .we-member a {   color: var(--we-red);   text-decoration: none; }  @media (max-width: 600px) {   .we<a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/sununu-and-shaheen-look-to-keep-dynasties-alive-in-new-hampshire\/\" title=\"Sununu and Shaheen look to keep dynasties alive in New Hampshire\">-grid {     grid-template-columns<\/a>: 1fr;     gap: 1rem;   }   .we-meter {     padding: 1.25rem;   }   .we-cta {     padding: 14px;   } } }<\/style>\n<p><script>if (typeof CSSScopeRule == 'undefined') { const style = document.getElementById('mos-95fa1289-532a-4e88-8ae3-bca875904c22-style'); if (style) { style.textContent = style.textContent.replace(\/^@scope (#mos-95fa1289-532a-4e88-8ae3-bca875904c22) { \/, '').replace(\/}$\/, '');}}<\/script><\/p>\n<div id=\"mos-95fa1289-532a-4e88-8ae3-bca875904c22\" style=\"display: contents;\">\n<section class=\"we-meter\" aria-label=\"Washington Examiner subscription meter\">\n<div class=\"we-grid\">\n<div>\n<h2 class=\"we-title\">Stay informed.<span>Stay ahead.<\/span><\/h2>\n<p class=\"we-copy\">                  Join Washington Examiner for unlimited access to the news, analysis, and commentary that matter most.       <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"we-actions\">       <a class=\"we-cta\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/subscribe\/digital\/\">         <span>See Options<\/span>         <span class=\"we-arrow\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\u203a<\/span>       <\/a>       <\/p>\n<p class=\"we-member\">Already a member? <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/sign-in\/\">Log in<\/a><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The bill would cover the Kennedy Center as well as other presidential memorials, including the Lincoln Memorial and Jefferson Memorial.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-1\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-1\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-15\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-1\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Unanimous consent is a <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/senate\/\" data-type=\"post_tag\" data-id=\"8765\">Senate<\/a> procedure that allows legislation to pass without a roll-call vote when no senator objects. Lee objected, blocking the measure from advancing.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cDemocrats should join us in lowering the cost of living and securing American elections instead of wasting the Senate\u2019s time with partisan scaremongering they haven\u2019t even tried to run through the appropriate committee process,\u201d Lee told the <em>Washington Examiner. <\/em><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">But Merkley defended the measure, calling it a \u201ccommon-sense bill.\u201d<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-2\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-2\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-16\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-2\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cOur congressionally authorized memorials to former presidents are a tribute to their accomplishments and service to our nation,\u201d <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.merkley.senate.gov\/senate-blocks-merkley-murkowski-bill-to-prevent-trump-tearing-down-presidential-memorials\/\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.merkley.senate.gov\/senate-blocks-merkley-murkowski-bill-to-prevent-trump-tearing-down-presidential-memorials\/\">Merkley said<\/a> in a press release. \u201cPerhaps the greatest living memorial for a president is the Kennedy Center, in honor of our slain president who championed the arts.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Merkley accused President <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/donald-trump\/\" data-type=\"post_tag\" data-id=\"4\">Donald Trump<\/a> of attempting to dismantle the Kennedy Center without congressional authorization.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cFirst, he destroyed its programming, and now, he wants to destroy the building itself,\u201d Merkley said. \u201cAll because the law says Trump can\u2019t put his name on the building.\u201d<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-3\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-3\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-17\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-3\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The dispute over the Kennedy Center has been ongoing for months. Trump took control of the institution\u2019s board of trustees last year and was subsequently elected chairman. His administration then moved to remake the center\u2019s leadership, programming, and branding.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Kennedy Center\u2019s board voted last year to add Trump\u2019s name to the building, renaming it the Donald J. Trump and John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in December 2025, sparking a monthslong legal and political battle.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A judge<a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/4727878\/judge-bars-kennedy-center-board-putting-trump-name-on-building\/\"> ultimately blocked <\/a>Trump from adding his name to the building in any form earlier this month. <\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-4\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-4\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-25\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-4\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Trump administration has also faced accusations that it could seek to demolish the Kennedy Center. Those concerns intensified after an <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/4728156\/kennedy-center-board-votes-close-immediately-renovations\/\">image circulated<\/a> showing Trump reading a large placard aboard Air Force One that said \u201cKennedy Center DEMOLISHED.\u201d <\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4744387\/talarico-paxton-texas-senate-race-poll\/\">TALARICO HOLDS 5-POINT LEAD OVER PAXTON IN TEXAS SENATE RACE, POLL SHOWS<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A federal judge has <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/white-house\/4731476\/kennedy-center-closed-one-week-safety-inspections\/\">subsequently ordered<\/a> the Trump administration to provide 30 days\u2019 advance notice to the court before taking steps toward demolishing the Kennedy Center.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-5\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-5\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-26\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-5\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Merkley and Murkowski have particular oversight of the institution as the ranking member and chairwoman, respectively, of the Senate Interior-Environment Appropriations Subcommittee, which oversees federal funding for the Kennedy Center.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Sen. Mike Lee blocks bill to stop Kennedy Center demolition<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4195,"featured_media":2672673,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/AP25191578150675-e1772997542106.jpg?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651],"tags":[40105,52198,35410,5894,3634],"class_list":["post-2672672","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","tag-government-regulation","tag-memorials","tag-mike-lee","tag-politics","tag-trump"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/AP25191578150675-e1772997542106.jpg?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2672672","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4195"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2672672"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2672672\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2672676,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2672672\/revisions\/2672676"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2672673"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2672672"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2672672"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2672672"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}