The Kennedy Center's board has voted to rename the plaza surrounding the performing arts center the “President Donald J. Trump Plaza” and to re-affix President Trump's name to the building's facade. The board made these decisions during a meeting Thursday.
Trump, who chairs the board, participated virtually in part of the meeting. The board's latest plan includes adding the inscription "Restored and Renovated by President Donald J. Trump” beneath the existing signage on the main hall.
These actions follow a December vote by the board to rebrand the center as the “Trump Kennedy Center.” That change was subsequently blocked by US District Judge Christopher Cooper, who ruled that Trump's name must be removed because it lacked congressional ratification.
Democrats have criticized the board's recent decisions. "This latest development is a transparent effort to circumvent the Court’s ruling, and flies in the face of the statutes that Congress passed," said Rep. Joyce Beatty (D-Ohio) in a statement. Beatty also referred to the board's decision to close the main building as a "surprise agenda item."
Paolo Zampolli, a presidential appointee to the board, defended the changes and pushed back against criticism. He urged for Trump's name to be inscribed in large letters and dismissed opposition to the main building's temporary closure, stating that critics were "willfully ignorant" of necessary repairs. Zampolli also clarified that the "Reach," a separate structure at the center, would remain open for shows during the renovation.
The approved renovation plan involves a $250 million investment to refresh the facility, which originally opened in 1971. The main building is expected to close for approximately two years to accommodate this work.