By SUZANNE DOWNING
Sept. 29, 2026 — Sen. Lisa Murkowski has publicly challenged President Donald Trump over two proposed changes to Washington landmarks, joining a Democratic colleague in an effort to require congressional approval before a presidential memorial can be demolished.
Murkowski, who runs and serves as an Alaska Republican without the support of most Alaska Republicans in her last election, and Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Oregon, introduced the Protecting Presidential Memorials Act after Trump raised the possibility of tearing down the Kennedy Center. Merkley sought to pass the bill by unanimous consent Monday night, but Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, objected, blocking its passage by that procedure.
“Democrats should join us in lowering the cost of living and securing American elections instead of wasting the Senate’s time with partisan scaremongering they haven’t even tried to run through the appropriate committee process,” Sen. Lee said, even though Murkowski is ostensibly a Republican, if in name only.
“President Trump has made recent statements about the Kennedy Center and the ‘Triumphal Arch,’ giving very little context or content about either to Congress or the public,” Murkowski said in a news release. “I would ask the Trump administration to work with us and present actual plans, including cost estimates, for these projects rather than circumventing their responsibility to American taxpayers.”
The bill addresses demolition of presidential memorials designated by Congress. It would require Congress to authorize demolition of all or a substantial part of such a memorial. Murkowski’s objections to Trump’s proposed Triumphal Arch are part of the same public dispute, but the arch is a separate construction project; the memorial bill would not itself prohibit building it.
Congress designated the Kennedy Center as a living memorial to President John F. Kennedy. A federal judge has ruled that its board cannot change the center’s name without an act of Congress. In the continuing court fight, Trump has suggested the building could be torn down. The judge has required advance notice before major changes to renovation plans, including demolition.
The proposed arch would stand at Memorial Circle, near Arlington National Cemetery. The National Park Service decided that the project would adversely affect historic properties, although it has also issued a finding that the project would not have significant environmental impacts. Its final decision remains pending completion of the historic preservation process.
Murkowski chairs the Senate Appropriations subcommittee responsible for funding the Kennedy Center, the Interior Department and the National Park Service; Merkley is its ranking Democrat. Murkowski argues that Congress should see plans and costs before the administration proceeds with changes on this scale.
Lee’s objection leaves the memorial bill without the quick Senate passage Merkley sought, while the dispute over the Kennedy Center and arch continues.
18 thoughts on “Murkowski joins Democrat to challenge Trump over Kennedy Center and proposed arch”
Even MAGA Trump supporters will agree with Murkowski and Merkley, right? Right?
Only a fool would agree with two clowns.
Uh, no. Why do you ask? Cheers –
They agree but they can’t say it out loud so instead they do the name calling thing. Yawn.
Murkowski has become a stain on the history of Alaska. I for one cannot wait to vote her from office.
Trump’s vanity is an unending stream of complete BS and Republicans continue to reinforce his massively inflated ego. Renaming the Kennedy Center is so utterly petty. And building the arch and ballroom are just purely ego projects – at the taxpayers expense. We have real issues in America and this idiot and his merry band of sycophants are too focused on his own pet projects when he should be focused on things that actually help Americans. Biden’s brain in a jar would be more effective.
Oh Bill give it a rest. I agree this Kennedy Center business is just silly (and in my opinion designed to simply tweak the likes of you and Lisa). Lisa should have better things to do.
As for the addition of the ballroom, it is NOT paid by the taxpayer, so get over it. It should further be pointed out that the White House was constructed in 1792 and has seen many many upgrades/additions over the centuries. I bet you would have had no problems with the addition of the North and South Porticos in 1824 by John Quincy Adams or Theodore Roosevelt in 1902 when he ADDED the West Wing and relocated offices or that Harry Truman had a bowling alley installed in 1947, a birthday gift from fellow Missourians(in other words he got donations).
Adding a large event space to this secure setting makes sense and will be used for generations. Holding state dinners in a tent while harking back to our revolutionary past, is just simply ridiculous.
Don’t forget FDRs pool,now the press room. They should have put in the trap doors and piranhas in the pool under the press room think Blofeld-style
What has Lisa Murkowski done with her life, except getting daddy’s appointment and then being a bitch Democrat? The only one who has done less than Lisa is her House Husband.
And Vern’s actually proud of that. A professional house husband is a nice gig. But what a price tag when it comes with a Lisa.
Lisa manages to fully engage in TDS while abandoning the Republican agenda.
The wicked witch of the north needs to go.
You’ve nailed that, she has abandoned the Republican agenda. Of course, the Republican agenda now is just to placate their lord and master, Donald Trump.
LOL! Pot meet Kettle!
Nothing new under the sun with the nasty, bitter, old hag Princess Lisa. The evil inside and out is truly remarkable.
Oh Lisa, you never disappoint on matters of importance or the trivial.
You said you are the resistance and you are. Whatever legacy you leave behind, it’s not flattering, humbling, or helpful. You are proving that you are one big traitor. You lack intelligence, Integrity, and honesty on a daily basis. Please retire. Leave your so-called “representative” position to someone who cares about we the people instead of you, the self absorbed traitor. Blessings, W.
Dem bones!
President Trump has made personal donations to the Kennedy center as well as securing funds for its preservation and improvements.
But yeah……let’s crap all over him for his efforts. If Mercedes Benz or Pepsi gave the Kennedy center a billion dollars nobody would bat an eye at them putting their name on it. The TDS in this country is out of hand.
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