The board of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts has voted to re-add President Donald Trump's name to the building's facade, approximately two months after a federal judge ordered its removal. The decision was made during a board meeting on Thursday.
Democratic Congresswoman Joyce Beatty, who is a member of the board, stated that many members are Trump allies. She also confirmed that the board voted to add the inscription "Restored and Renovated By President Donald J. Trump" to the formal name of the center.
Beatty criticized the move, calling it "a transparent effort to circumvent the court's ruling" and stated that it "flies in the face of the statutes that Congress passed." She vowed to "continue to fight for this treasured national monument."
A White House spokesperson, Liz Huston, issued a statement saying, "Under President Trump's bold leadership, the Kennedy Center is on its way to becoming the finest cultural institution anywhere in the world."
In addition to reinstating the name, the board also voted to proceed with a two-year closure for proposed renovations. This renovation plan had previously been blocked by a federal judge.
In late May, U.S. District Court Judge Christopher Cooper ruled that the president's name had been added to the venue unlawfully because renaming it requires congressional approval. He subsequently ordered the removal of the name, which was carried out the following month despite a last-minute attempt by the Trump administration to halt the order. Workers were seen putting up scaffolding prior to the removal of President Donald Trump's name from the Kennedy Center on June 12, 2026. A close-up of signage that previously read "The Donald J Trump and John F Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts" was seen on May 16, 2026.
