A U.S. judge has blocked the Kennedy Center from adding President Donald Trump's name to the performing arts venue, a ruling that came as the center's board, chaired by Trump, voted to close the building for two years. This decision marks the third time a board vote to close the center has been approved since February, amidst ongoing legal challenges regarding Trump's increased control over the institution.
In February, Trump replaced several trustees and became the chairman of the arts center's board. By December, the board had decided to rename the institution, and lettering bearing Trump's full name was affixed to the building's front. These changes, including the renaming, were followed by artist cancellations and a reported drop in ticket sales.
The legal challenges primarily center on the fact that Congress established the Kennedy Center as a memorial to President John F. Kennedy. Detractors argue that any changes to the memorial require congressional approval, while Trump has asserted his authority to act.
"Simply put, Defendants cannot install memorials for President Trump or anyone or anything else at the Kennedy Center without Congress's blessing," U.S. District Judge Christopher Cooper stated in a written order. He further noted that the board's proposals to alter the center's existing name and campus "bucks a federal court order and a statute Congress enacted," which designated the center to memorialize Kennedy exclusively.
Earlier on Tuesday, Trump announced on Truth Social that the board had voted "almost unanimously" to close the venue "for safety reasons" to begin reconstruction. He stated the closure would take effect immediately but renovations could not commence until the court ruled on the board's approved name for the building. Trump vowed to appeal to the Supreme Court if the ruling was unfavorable and indicated the Department of Justice would seek an expedited appeal. He also mentioned raising $17 million for the center and that the board had approved a resolution to rename the campus the "President Donald J. Trump Plaza" if $100 million was raised for renovations.
According to a report from The Washington Post, the Kennedy Center administration warned its board on Sunday that the institution was facing potential bankruptcy. The administration cited a "precarious fiscal position" that could prevent it from meeting payroll obligations and maintenance contracts within weeks.
The current leadership has stated the building is unsafe, citing a partial ceiling collapse earlier this month. However, others familiar with the center dispute the necessity of a closure. Trump described the building's conditions as dire and criticized the judge for keeping it open, asserting he possessed the means and presidential authority to support the renovations.