The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts' board of trustees is poised to vote on resolutions that could add President Donald Trump's name to the building's facade, citing urgent financial peril and the need for his fundraising support. Board members have warned of "certain fiscal collapse within weeks" and potential bankruptcy if Trump's name is not prominently recognized.
The resolutions, scheduled for a vote Tuesday, state that the center faces a "dire financial position" and may be unable to afford payroll and maintenance in the coming weeks without Trump's intervention. The board's resolutions suggest that "without such appropriate recognition it is unlikely that President Trump will provide the fundamental oversight of the renovation of the main building and lead the fiscal rescue of the Center."
This development follows previous board votes to rename the facility after Trump and to honor him for renovating and restoring the center. U.S. District Judge Christopher Cooper, who had previously ordered the removal of Trump's name from the building, has scheduled a conference for Tuesday morning, shortly before the Kennedy Center board's meeting.
Last month, the board voted 23-3 to approve an earlier resolution to close the facility for two years for renovations. Trump-appointed members largely comprise the board. The same vote also included provisions to add Trump's name to the building's facade up to two more times, according to court filings.
While Congress has allocated $257 million for the renovation project, the board asserts that Trump could raise an additional $100 million. Judge Cooper is currently reviewing whether proposed tributes violate his prior order. Lawyers for Rep. Joyce Beatty, who has legally challenged the renaming, argue that the board's latest resolutions aim to convince Cooper that the center's future hinges on Trump's support, which is contingent on his name being displayed.
Trump's allies on the board are expected to propose two resolutions. One concerns approving a two-year closure of the main building for extensive renovations, citing recent safety concerns, including a piece of the ceiling that fell in the Grand Foyer during heavy rain. The resolution states, "The Board, being duly advised, believes that the risk associated with exposing patrons and employees to a hazardous building greatly outweighs any reputational risk associated with closing the main building."
Programming, including the National Symphony Orchestra and the Kennedy Center Honors, would continue offsite or in an adjacent building during the renovation period. The board previously voted to close the center in August, but these new resolutions aim to further justify the changes by referencing the court's guidance on its statutory and fiduciary obligations.
The resolution also highlights Trump's offer to help raise funds to prevent bankruptcy during the renovation. "While actively considering alternative means of fiscal survival, President Trump has offered to step in and raise the necessary funds to keep the Center from bankruptcy during its much-needed renovation," the resolution states.
Acknowledging the ongoing legal challenges, the board's resolution indicates that adding Trump's name would "comply" with the court's previous decision while providing "recognition in a concrete and public fashion."
These filings echo previous warnings from the Department of Justice, which last month suggested the Kennedy Center could face demolition if Trump's name was not added to the building. The DOJ filing stated, "Without those efforts, the Center will deteriorate further into an unsafe, decrepit structure that will be required to be taken down..." The department added that a replacement structure might be simpler and more economical but would fail to adequately honor President John F. Kennedy.