Kennedy Center Board Votes to Put Trump's Name Back on the Building, Testing Judge's Order
The move sets the stage for a test of a judge's order that previously mandated Trump's name be removed.
On Thursday, the Kennedy Center board of directors decided to restore President Donald Trump's name to the facade of the iconic John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. The board, which is largely composed of Trump supporters, voted 20-3 to add "Restored and Renovated by President Donald J. Trump" to the building's name, alongside naming the grounds "President Donald J. Trump Plaza."
The decision came just days after a judge ruled that removing Trump's name from the building violated federal law and went against a court order. The center, which was named after President John F. Kennedy in 1964, was set to close for renovations lasting up to two years, with operations shifting to another building on the campus.
Democratic Representative Joyce Beatty, who is an ex-officio board member, criticized the board's decision, stating that it was an attempt to bypass the court's ruling and disregarded the laws passed by Congress. The board's moves are part of an ongoing dispute over Trump's efforts to gain control of the Kennedy Center. The judge's ruling from May rejected Trump's previous attempt to change the center's name and halted plans for renovations.
After the ruling, Trump removed his name from the building and announced that he would not proceed with the renovation plans. Trump, who made the Kennedy Center Honors his first presidential event in 2025, has been trying to claim control of the center since the beginning of his second term.
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