General News
Trump Says Kennedy Center Will Close as Court Blocks His Name From Building
By Angel No Lie
September 16, 2026 | Washington, D.C.
WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Kennedy Center is facing an uncertain future after its board voted to shut down most of the performing arts complex for renovations, hours after a federal judge again blocked efforts to place President Donald Trump’s name on the building.
Court blocks Trump name
The latest dispute is part of a months-long legal battle over the identity and governance of the Kennedy Center, which was established as a memorial to former President John F. Kennedy.
Judge Cooper wrote that the board could not install memorials honoring Trump or others without congressional authorization. The ruling also prevents the board from proceeding with plans to rename the plaza surrounding the center after Trump.
Trump’s name had previously been added to the building’s exterior, but workers removed it in June following an earlier court order. The façade has since remained partly covered by scaffolding and a white tarp.
Trump links renovations to naming dispute
Trump has argued that the Kennedy Center requires extensive repairs and has warned that renovation work should not proceed unless the legal dispute over his name is resolved in his favor.
According to Reuters, the proposed renovation project has a congressional allocation of about $257 million. Trump said in a social-media post that he would wait for the appeals process before allowing reconstruction and renovation work to begin.
The president has also said he has contributed $17 million to an endowment intended to support the institution.
Board votes to close
The Kennedy Center board subsequently voted to shut down most of the facility for renovations. Reuters reported that the proposed closure could last up to two years.
The board has warned that the institution is facing serious financial problems and could struggle to meet payroll and maintenance obligations. Its supporters have also pointed to deteriorating infrastructure, including a recent ceiling collapse inside the complex.
Trump has described the condition of the building as dangerous and has argued that major reconstruction is necessary.
However, the dispute over the name has complicated the renovation plans. The board has argued that Trump’s continued involvement and financial support are important to the center’s survival, while opponents of the renaming effort maintain that Congress—not the board—has authority over changes to the memorial’s identity.
A dispute that has divided the institution
The controversy intensified after Trump became chairman of the Kennedy Center board and allies on the board voted to place his name on the building.
The center originally opened in 1971 and has served as one of America’s most prominent performing-arts institutions. It hosts major theatrical, musical and dance productions as well as the annual Kennedy Center Honors.
The naming controversy has also coincided with departures and cancellations by some artists and arts organizations. Reuters reported that revenue at the institution has fallen sharply, while the Washington National Opera and National Symphony Orchestra have had to find alternative venues for performances.
Justice Department appeals
The Justice Department has appealed the latest court decision. Under Judge Cooper’s order, any future attempt to install an inscription or acknowledgment of Trump would require advance notice and congressional authorization.
The outcome of the appeal could therefore have significant consequences for both the renovation plans and the ongoing dispute over the Kennedy Center’s name.
For now, the center faces two intertwined challenges: how to finance and carry out major repairs to an aging landmark, and how to resolve the legal fight over whether President Trump’s name can appear on a building legally designated as a memorial to John F. Kennedy.
The situation remains subject to further court proceedings and possible appeals.
Sources: Associated Press, Reuters, court reporting and publicly reported statements from the Kennedy Center and Trump administration.