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Kennedy Center board votes to restore Trump name and close venue
By Aurax Desk | August 14, 2026 | 2 min read
The Kennedy Center board voted Thursday to put President Donald Trump’s name back on the Washington arts complex and close most of the facility for two years for renovations. The decisions come despite a federal judge’s earlier ruling blocking the name change and the proposed closure, setting up another potential legal confrontation.
The Kennedy Center board also approved a two-year closure for major renovations.
The Trump-aligned board approved a new inscription for the building’s facade that would read, “The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts Restored and Renovated By President Donald J. Trump,” according to board member Rep. Joyce Beatty and other reports. The board also voted to rename the plaza in front of the building the President Donald J. Trump Plaza. The moves follow a May ruling by U.S. District Judge Christopher Cooper that ordered Trump’s name removed, finding that the board did not have authority to alter the federally designated name of the institution.
The board also backed a two-year closure to carry out major renovations, including repairs and upgrades to the aging facility. The Kennedy Center was established by Congress as a national memorial to President John F. Kennedy and opened in 1971. The latest votes intensify a dispute that began after Trump took control of the center’s board and became its chairman, with the institution’s leadership arguing that extensive work is necessary while opponents contend the board is attempting to bypass congressional and judicial authority. The new decisions are expected to face further legal scrutiny.
Sources: Reuters, Associated Press, BBC News and The Washington Post.
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