The Kennedy Center Board of Trustees has put forward proposals to name the arts institution's grounds the "President Donald J. Trump Plaza" and to inscribe credits on the building recognizing President Donald Trump's contributions to its restoration and renovation. These proposals are part of a sweeping renovation project at the Washington, D.C. venue.
The board voted to add an inscription that would read, "The John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts Restored and Renovated by President Donald J. Trump." Additionally, the words "Endowed by the Trump Kennedy Center Fund" are intended to be inscribed once the fund reaches a $100 million endowment.
These moves follow a 20-3 supermajority vote by the board to recognize Trump's role in securing $257 million from Congress for deferred maintenance. A separate vote, passing 23-3, approved a partial closure of the complex to facilitate major renovations. Sens. Sheldon Whitehouse, D-R.I., and Reps. Joyce Beatty, D-Ohio, and Rick Larsen, D-Wash., voted against both resolutions, according to a source familiar with the proceedings.
The renovation aims to address significant structural issues, including water infiltration, damaged electrical rooms, numerous points of failure in the parking garage, and aging soffit panels that pose a public safety risk. A Kennedy Center spokesperson stated that the project, with the board's and Chairman Trump's support, will ensure the center remains a resilient home for the arts.
The approved partial closure is based on an independent analysis and is projected to result in a $3.4 million surplus, contrasting with a potential $78 million deficit under an alternative plan involving prolonged revolving closures. During the renovation, free Millennium Stage programs, film events, educational programming, and the JFK memorial exhibit will remain accessible at The REACH. The National Symphony Orchestra will perform its 2026-2027 Classical Season at various venues in and around Washington, D.C.
Previous efforts to rename the center after Trump and an earlier closure plan were blocked by a federal judge. White House spokeswoman Liz Huston commented that "Under President Trump's bold leadership, the Kennedy Center is on its way to becoming the finest cultural institution anywhere in the world."