The Kennedy Center
Visitors walk at The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, Sunday, Sept. 6, 2026, in Washington.
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The Kennedy Center Board of Trustees is planning to propose adding President Donald Trump’s …
A federal judge has blocked the Kennedy Center from returning President Donald Trump’s name to the iconic performing arts venue in a move meant to recognize his renovation efforts. In the ruling Tuesday, Judge Christopher Cooper said restoring Trump's name in any way would violate an earlier ruling that the name was illegally added to the building. The judge said defendants "cannot install memorials for President Trump or anyone or anything else at the Kennedy Center without Congress’s blessing.”
The board of the Kennedy Center has voted to close the facility over financial issues and a dispute over putting President Donald Trump’s name on the iconic performing arts venue. That's according to people familiar with the matter. They spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss a private meeting. Prior to Tuesday’s board meeting, a federal judge blocked the Kennedy Center board from adding Trump’s name to the structure or grounds, saying it would violate an earlier ruling that his name was illegally added to the building. Trump says the Justice Department will appeal the judge's ruling.
