A federal judge in Washington, D.C., has rejected the latest attempt by the Kennedy Center’s board of trustees to add President Donald Trump’s name to the building’s facade. U.S. District Judge Christopher Cooper ruled on Tuesday that the board cannot install memorials for the former president or any other individual without explicit congressional approval, reinforcing that the institution remains a memorial dedicated exclusively to President John F. Kennedy.
The underlying reporting is available from CNBC.
Board Votes for Immediate Closure
Shortly after the ruling, the board—handpicked by Trump, who also serves as its chairman—voted to shutter the performing arts center immediately. The board cited the facility’s “dire” financial and structural condition as justification, specifically pointing to a partial ceiling collapse in the Grand Foyer earlier this month. According to a draft resolution, the board intends to keep the center closed for two years for “Renovation and Reconstruction.”
Trump, who participated in the meeting virtually, stated via social media that the renovations cannot proceed without the inclusion of his name on the building. “If the ruling is a negative one… the Reconstruction and the Renovation of The Kennedy Center will not take place,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. The board had previously suggested renaming parts of the grounds to “President Donald J. Trump Plaza,” a move also rejected by legal challenges.
Legal and Financial Stakes
The conflict centers on a lawsuit filed by Rep. Joyce Beatty, D-Ohio, an ex-officio board member, who argues the board has failed to conduct proper due diligence and is politicizing the institution. Judge Cooper’s ruling echoed skepticism regarding the board’s claims of financial crisis. While the board claims the center is facing potential bankruptcy, Cooper noted that Congress has already appropriated $250 million for capital improvements. Furthermore, the judge found “no competent evidence” that the center’s financial struggles were linked to the absence of Trump’s name, noting instead that revenue and attendance have declined amid concerns over the center’s politicization.
“The law is extremely clear: The John F. Kennedy Center is named for President Kennedy — and no one else,” Rep. Beatty said in a statement following the ruling. Attorneys for the center are expected to ask the judge to lift his block on the closure this week, but Beatty’s legal team, including Norm Eisen of Democracy Defenders Action, has indicated they will oppose the move, arguing that necessary repairs can be conducted without a full shutdown.