The Kennedy Center’s board has voted to close the performing arts venue for a two-year period, a decision made just as a federal judge issued a ruling preventing the institution from adding President Donald Trump’s name to the building. The board, chaired by Trump and composed of his allies and cabinet members, had previously approved a resolution in August to affix the inscription “Renovated and Restored by President Donald J. Trump” to the property. It had also proposed rebranding the campus as “President Donald J. Trump Plaza” contingent upon raising $100 million for renovations.
US District Judge Christopher Cooper’s written order arrived less than an hour before the board’s vote. In his ruling, Judge Cooper emphasized that the center was established by Congress as a living memorial to President John F. Kennedy following his 1963 assassination. He stated that the board could not install memorials for Trump or others without congressional approval. The judge noted that the board’s proposal to alter the site’s name “bucks a federal court order and a statute Congress enacted,” which explicitly mandates that the center exists to memorialize Kennedy alone.
This marks the third time the board has voted to close the center since February. While Trump stated on Truth Social that the board approved the closure “almost unanimously” due to safety concerns—citing a recent ceiling collapse—the facility cannot legally shut down unless Judge Cooper lifts a temporary block established in May. That injunction requires the center to remain open while a lawsuit brought by board member and Democratic congresswoman Joyce Beatty proceeds. The court has indicated that the board may request the lift of this stay if it demonstrates a “prudent” plan for closure, a motion expected by Friday.
Congresswoman Beatty has criticized the renaming efforts, arguing that the center had originally planned for phased renovations that would allow performances to continue. She attributed the recent decline in ticket sales and the departure of various artists to the controversial branding changes, characterizing Trump’s focus on the institution as a matter of “vanity” that breaches his fiduciary duties. “Congress established the Kennedy Center as a living memorial to President Kennedy, and I am proud to defend this cherished institution,” she said.
Despite the legal setbacks, Trump has insisted that the closure will take effect immediately. He vowed to escalate the case to the Supreme Court if necessary and noted that the US Department of Justice would seek an expedited appeal. Trump claimed to have raised $17 million to keep the center operational, even as the administration reported to the board on Sunday that the institution is in a “precarious fiscal position.” The report indicated that the center is nearing bankruptcy and may soon be unable to cover payroll or maintenance expenses.
The current leadership of the center contends that the building is unsafe for occupancy. This stands in contrast to the perspective of critics who argue that the facility should remain operational. The ongoing conflict reflects a broader struggle over the governance of the memorial, which has received over $250 million in congressional funding for renovations. The board’s recent actions follow a series of leadership changes in February 2025, where Trump replaced several trustees, leading to the initial move to rename the institution and affix new lettering to the portico. The report also notes that among other rebranding measures across the nation’s capital, last year, trump announced the addition of his name to the institution. The report also notes that beatty, an Ohio congresswoman and Democrat, said on Tuesday that the centre had planned for years to undergo phased renovations while still putting on some performances, instead of fully shutting. The report also notes that telling he “only cares about the Kennedy Center for his vanity”, she blamed Trump’s attempted renaming for the departures of audiences and artists. The report also notes that that is wrong and it is a breach of his fiduciary duty as a trustee. The report also notes that while detractors say that means Congress must approve changes to the memorial, Trump has argued he has the power to act. The report also notes that but others dispute that it must be closed.
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