
The Kennedy Center’s board voted Tuesday to close the iconic Washington performing arts venue’s main building for renovations, hours after a federal judge again blocked efforts to add President Donald Trump’s name to the facade.
U.S. District Judge Christopher R. Cooper ruled that the center could not install inscriptions honoring Trump, including “renovated and restored by Donald J. Trump,” or rename the campus “President Donald J. Trump Plaza,” stating that only Congress can authorize such changes. The board, composed of Trump loyalists, had argued that recognizing Trump was necessary to secure his oversight and financial support for the $257 million renovation project .
Trump, who appointed himself board chair last year, said on social media that the renovation “will not take place” unless courts allow his name to be added. He cited safety risks, including a recent ceiling collapse, and claimed the center was “practically in a state of collapse” . The board’s resolution noted water damage and structural deterioration as justification for the closure.
The decision follows months of legal disputes. In May, Cooper ordered the removal of Trump’s name from the facade, which had briefly been added alongside John F. Kennedy’s. The center complied in June, but scaffolding and tarps have remained . The Justice Department has appealed the latest ruling.
During Tuesday’s board meeting, Trump clashed with Rep. Joyce Beatty (D-Ohio), who has led opposition to the renaming. Beatty called Trump’s actions harmful, while Trump accused her of incompetence, according to a participant . The center’s financial struggles, including a drop in ticket sales, have been linked to the controversy.
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